Research Database –
International Updates

SCHERER and colleagues, New York University College of Dentistry, NY USA wsch123@aol.com conducted an examiner-blinded, parallel-group clinical trial to study the ability of an herbal mouthrinse to reduce gingival bleeding.
Methods: 40 healthy adult volunteers participated in this study. In order to be eligible for a baseline clinical exam, all recruits had to satisfy the criteria that they habitually brushed their teeth at least twice per day, had noticed "bleeding gums" or "blood in the toothpaste" following brushing or flossing their teeth. At baseline, subjects were enrolled in the study if they had at least 5 Loe-Silness gingival bleeding sites and 20 natural teeth, including 4 molars. The volunteers were assigned to one of two treatment groups: 1) Herbal mouth and gum therapy; or 2) Control (distilled water and dye). The participants were instructed to clean their teeth in the usual way, not to use any other mouthrinses or oral irrigation for the 3 months of the study, when they returned for clinical examinations, at which time gingivitis and gingival bleeding scores were recorded. Prior to the treatment, there were no significant differences between the baseline evaluations of the 2 groups in the study.
Results: Compared to the Control treatment, herbal mouth and gum therapy produced a statistically significant effect upon both gingivitis and bleeding scores.
Conclusions: The data from this study demonstrate the clinical efficacy of Herbal mouth and gum therapy in reducing gingivitis and gingival bleeding.
Scherer W et al. The ability of an herbal mouthrinse to reduce gingival bleeding. The Journal of Clinical Dentistry 9(4): 97-100. 1998.

KAIM and colleagues, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York USA jmk2@is2.nyu.edu studied the antimicrobial activity of one prescription and two commercially available over-the-counter mouthrinses, as well as positive and negative controls against bacteria commonly found in the mouth.
Methods: The authors used the following bacteria: Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis and Actinomyces viscosus. Sterile discs treated with the mouthrinses were placed on agar plates along with the controls. Zones of microbial inhibition were measures followed 48 hours of incubation.
Results: All mouthrinses demonstrated antimicrobial activity against the bacteria tested. The Herbal mouth and gum therapy, containing natural ingredients, produced the largest zones of microbial inhibition, compared to Listerine against all three of the bacterial strains tested. Herbal Mouth and gum therapy mouthrinse produced larger zones of microbial inhibition compared to Peridex against 2 of the 2 bacteria tested, and produced similar zones of inhibition against the third bacteria.
Kaim JM et al. An in vitro investigation of the antimicrobial activity of an herbal mouthrinse. The Journal of Clinical Dentistry 9(2): 46-8. 1998.

GULTZ and colleagues, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York USA determined and compared the antimicrobial effectiveness of 3 commercial mouthrinses and a water control.
Methods: Antimicrobial efficacy of these products was determined against aerobic, mirco-aerophilic and anaerobic bacteria. 20 people participated in the study. A pre-test saliva sample was taken at each experimental session for each person, which was divided and used to grow 3 bacterial cultures under the different incubation environments. Following giving the pre-test sample, the person rinsed with one of the mouthrinses or the water control for 30 seconds, waited one hour, and then gave a post-test saliva sample, which again was divided and used to culture the different bacteria. After the 48-hour incubation period, the bacterial colonies on each plate were counted and compared.
Results: All the mouthrinses used performed significantly better than the water control. Herbal mouth and gum therapy and Peridex were not statistically significantly different in their inhibition of aerobic, microaerophilic and anaerobic bacteria. However, both Herbal mouth and gum therapy and Peridex were significantly more effective than Listerine in their inhibition of the 3 different types of bacteria.
Gultz J et al. An in vivo comparison of the antimicrobial activities of three mouthrinses. The Journal of Clinical Dentistry 9(2): 43-5. 1998.

ESTAFAN and colleagues, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York USA del@is.nyu.edu compared the efficacy of 2 commercially available toothpastes, Herbal Toothpaste and Gum Therapy and Colgate Total in controlling gingivitis, gingival bleeding, plaque and stain.
Methods: The authors conducted a 3 month, double-blind, parallel-design clinical study in which 40 healthy adult volunteers were recruited. In order to be eligible for a baseline clinical exam, all recruits had to satisfy the criteria that during the past 6 months they brushed their teeth at least twice per day, had noticed "bleeding gums" or "blood in the toothpaste" following brushing or flossing their teeth. At baseline, subjects were enrolled in the study if they had at least 5 Loe-Silness gingival bleeding sites and 20 natural teeth, including all anterior teeth and 4 molars.
Results: There were no significant differences between the 2 groups at baseline. The data demonstrated that both toothpastes had a significant effect upon gingivitis, gingival bleeding, plaque and dental stain. No statistical differences were observed between Herbal Toothpaste and Gum Therapy and Colgate Total for gingivitis or gingival bleeding. Compared with Colgate Total, Herbal Toothpaste and Gum Therapy produced statistically significant differences in reducing plaque and stain.
Conclusions: The results from this study demonstrate the clinical efficacy of both products in reducing gingivitis and plaque and demonstrate the efficacy of Herbal Toothpaste and Gum Therapy in maintaining reductions of plaque and stain.
Estafan D et al. Clinical efficacy of an herbal toothpaste. The Journal of Clinical Dentistry 9(2): 31-3. 1998.