Assessing anti-plaque efficiency of a herbal dentifrice

Dental plaque is a key factor in gingivitis and periodontitis, requiring effective control measures. This randomized, double-blind clinical trial compared an herbal dentifrice (neem, clove and tea tree oil), a conventional fluoride dentifrice and a placebo in 90 participants with mild gingivitis. Plaque Index (PI) and Gingival Index (GI) were recorded at baseline, 2 weeks and 4 weeks. At 4 weeks, the herbal dentifrice showed the greatest reductions in PI (60.7%) and GI (55.7%) compared to fluoride (48.6%, 41.8%) and placebo (21.4%, 13.2%), with significant intergroup differences (p < 0.001). The herbal dentifrice demonstrated superior anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis efficacy, supporting its role as a natural oral hygiene alternative.