Comparison of Punica granatum, Terminalia chebula, and Vitis vinifera Seed Extracts used as Mouthrinse on Salivary Streptococcus mutans Levels in Children.

The present study was conducted to compare the efficacy of all Punica granatum, Terminalia chebula, and Vitis vinifera on salivary Streptococcus mutans levels in children and also to evaluate their substantivity at an interval of 15 days that is at day 1, days 16, and 31.

This study was designed for a randomized clinical double-blinded study where 80 children of 8-15 years of age were living in a residential premise. Subjects were randomly divided into 4 groups of 20 each to whom mouthrinses were given. The criteria for assessing the efficacy was done by collecting the saliva sample for pH, buffering capacity, plaque index, and Streptococcus mutans microbiologic assay. These values were assessed at the baseline, days 16, and 31. Children were asked to discontinue mouthrinse from days 16 to 31. The supervisor was trained to administer the mouthrinses properly.

The data were coded and analysis was done using the SPSS version 20. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. The pH and buffering capacity showed that values were almost the same among all four groups at various time intervals which showed statistically nonsignificant results. Punica granatum showed a maximum reduction in S. mutans count followed by T. chebula and V. vinifera, although they were statistically nonsignificant. The Vitis vinifera group had successfully reduced more plaque score at day 16 (0.04) followed by T. chebula (0.09) and P. granatum (0.12).

This in vivo study implied that V. vinifera had shown the lowest plaque reduction owing to its antioxidant and phytochemical properties. And P. granatum showed the maximum substantivity.

Mouthrinses helped in reducing plaque deposition, caries activity, and helped in oral hygiene maintenance. Hereby, we can conclude that nutraceutical mouthrinses are safe in children and produced superior results than the chemical mouthrinses.