Povidone-Iodine Mouthwash Reduces Salivary Inflammatory Cytokines In Diabetes

To investigate changes in salivary inflammatory responses after povidone-iodine mouthwash use in diabetic patients. Thirty type 2 diabetes mellitus patients were divided into two groups: one group received saline solution mouthwash, and the other received povidone-iodine mouthwash. Both groups rinsed their mouths twice daily for 1 minute per session over 1 week. Salivary interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were measured before and after treatment. After treatment, salivary inflammatory cytokine levels decreased in both groups. Notably, the povidone-iodine group showed significantly lower concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α compared to the saline group. Povidone-iodine mouthwash more effectively reduces salivary inflammatory cytokines in diabetic patients, suggesting its potential as an adjunctive therapy to mitigate oral inflammation and matrix degradation in this population.