Effect of Aloe Vera Mouthwashes on the Oral Health of Children

Prevention of dental problems by controlling plaque is the best solution to maintain oral health and prevent high cost of dental treatments. Home oral care is the cornerstone in removing plaque and therefore controlling tooth decay and gum disease. Unfortunately, complete plaque removal is difficult to achieve by mechanical methods alone. For effective plaque control antiplaque agents such as chlorhexidine mouthwash is necessary. Chlorhexidine has shown distinct advantage, but it has many side effects such as staining of the teeth and the tongue, altered taste sensation, and increased calculus formation often deters its use for long periods. Recently the use of herbal mouthwashes is rising due to the widespread awareness that natural substances have less side effects and lower economic cost. Of various plant extracts used as a base for mouthwashes, aloe vera deserves a special attention as it has recently been introduced in dentistry after years of use in medicine field. Many recent studies stated that aloe vera mouthwashes has shown efficiency in plaque control and prevention of gingivitis, but there is a need for more studies to determine the best protocols regarding concentration and frequency of its use. A review of the literature shows that there is no randomized controlled trials evaluating its efficiency in plaque control and prevention of gingivitis in children, which is the main purpose of this study.