Comparing Herbal Mouthwash and 0.2% Chlorhexidine as Preprocedural Rinses in Clinical Settings to Reduce Dental Aerosol Hazards: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction: Occupational health hazards in dentistry include aerosol and splatter production. Preprocedural rinses are used to reduce microbial contamination. Objective: To compare the antimicrobial efficacy of herbal and 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwashes as preprocedural rinses during ultrasonic scaling. Methodology: In this double-blinded randomized controlled trial, 42 participants (21 per group) rinsed with either CHX or herbal mouthwash before scaling. Aerosols were collected on sheep blood agar plates for microbial analysis. Results: Herbal mouthwash showed comparable efficacy to CHX in reducing microbial load, with no significant differences observed. Conclusion: Herbal mouthwash is an effective alternative to CHX for reducing bacterial aerosols.