Tea Tree Oil versus Chlorhexidine Mouthwash in ...

Tea Tree Oil versus Chlorhexidine Mouthwash in ...

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Abstract

Objective: The study evaluated the efficacy of tea tree oil for the treatment of gingivitis.

Materials and Methods: The tea tree oil was administered in the form of mouthwash and then compared with a mouthwash containing 0.12% chlorhexidine. Both treatments were conducted domestically and lasted for 14 days. Participants included 42 patients aged 18 to 60 with clinically evident gingivitis. Key clinical criteria such as the gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), bleeding index (BI), probing depth (PD), dental dyschromia, and taste alteration were assessed. Evaluations occurred before (T0) and after (T1) the treatment, with data recorded on a periodontal chart.

Results: Tea tree oil demonstrated better improvement in PI, BI, and PD, and it did not cause dental dyschromia or taste alteration. In group A (tea tree oil), PI decreased from 53.25% to 5.50% and BI from 38.41% to 4.22%. In group B (chlorhexidine), PI decreased from 47.69% to 2.37% and BI from 32.93% to 6.28%. Some subjects using chlorhexidine reported a distaste for the product, and 20% experienced dental dyschromia.

Conclusions: Both treatments were effective. Further research is necessary, but this study indicates that tea tree oil could be a viable, non-toxic alternative for treating gingivitis.

Keywords: gingivitis, tea tree oil, chlorhexidine, oral hygiene

Introduction

The health of the oral cavity is closely linked to the presence of various microorganisms that can lead to gingivitis and periodontitis. High-quality evidence shows that a significant reduction in dental plaque can be achieved with chlorhexidine mouth rinse when used in addition to mechanical oral hygiene. Over recent decades, alternative medicine has gained popularity, with natural remedies increasingly being used as effective substitutes for drugs in mild to moderate cases, and as complements in more severe cases.

Active compounds from plants have long been the focus of in vitro studies to better understand their therapeutic properties and effects on the human body. Essential oils, utilized for therapeutic purposes since ancient times, are one such class of natural remedies due to their potent anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, as demonstrated by numerous studies. Among these, tea tree oil has recently gained traction in phytotherapy for its versatile applications in dermatology, oncology, and dentistry.

Tea tree oil, also known as "oil of the Tea tree" or "Melaleuca essential oil," is derived from the distillation of the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia tree, which belongs to the Myrtaceae family native to Australia. Referred to as "the most versatile healer of nature," it possesses significant antimicrobial activity according to several studies. Carson et al. identified two key components responsible for its therapeutic properties: terpineol-4 and 1,8-cineol. The concentration of these components is crucial; terpineol should be no less than 30% and cineol no more than 15% to balance out cineol's irritant effects while harnessing terpineol's benefits. Studies by Penfold et al. have shown that tea tree oil is 13 times more effective on microorganisms than carbolic acid, promoting its use as a therapeutic agent. The aim of this study was to determine if tea tree oil is an effective alternative to chlorhexidine for treating gingivitis.

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