Mouthwash Comparison: Chlorhexidine More Effective Than Aloe Vera in Alveolar Osteitis, Study Reveals
India: A recent study published in the journal Bioinformation compared the effectiveness of Aloe vera and chlorhexidine mouthwashes in preventing alveolar osteitis (AO), commonly known as dry socket, following tooth extractions. The study revealed that while both mouthwashes helped in reducing AO, chlorhexidine proved to be more effective in minimizing wound dehiscence and alleviating pain by the 7th day after surgery.
"Findings indicated that while there was no significant difference in pain levels between the two groups on the 2nd day, by the 7th day, chlorhexidine demonstrated superior pain reduction compared to Aloe vera," the researchers reported.
Alveolar osteitis is a painful condition that can occur after tooth extraction or surgery, requiring timely treatment to reduce discomfort, costs, and repeated dental visits. Chlorhexidine (CHX) is a commonly used antiseptic, while Aloe vera, a natural herbal remedy, is becoming increasingly popular in dentistry due to its mild side effects.
Against the above background, Shruti Ajmera, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nims Dental College and Hospital, Nims University, Jaipur, India, and colleagues aimed to assess the effectiveness of normal saline, Aloe vera, and chlorhexidine mouthwashes in lowering the risk of AO following lower third molar surgery.
For this purpose, the researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 150 patients, who were assigned to three groups: Group 1 received chlorhexidine mouthwash, Group 2 used Aloe vera mouthwash, and Group 3 was given normal saline as a placebo. Postoperative evaluations on the 2nd and 7th days assessed trismus grading, VAS scores, wound dehiscence, and the incidence of AO.
The following were the key findings of the study:
- There were no significant differences in the occurrence of AO among the groups.
- Trismus grading showed no significant variation between the groups.
- Wound dehiscence differed significantly among the groups.
- The VAS score on the 2nd day showed no notable difference between the groups.
- By the 7th day, chlorhexidine was more effective in reducing pain than Aloe vera.
The study concludes that chlorhexidine mouthwash is more effective than Aloe vera mouthwash in reducing wound dehiscence and pain by the 7th day after the third molar surgery. While chlorhexidine showed better results in lowering the occurrence of alveolar osteitis compared to Aloe vera and the control group, there was no significant difference between the two mouthwashes in preventing alveolar osteitis.
"Increasing the frequency of follow-ups and expanding the sample size could enhance the study's ability to assess the effectiveness of the three groups in wound healing. Regular use of chlorhexidine and Aloe vera mouthwashes may serve as effective postoperative options for reducing the risk of alveolar osteitis. However, chlorhexidine demonstrated greater potential in preventing wound dehiscence and pain compared to Aloe vera mouthwash," the researchers wrote.
Reference:
Ajmera, S., Sharma, S., Sharma, A. K., Sharma, V., Petchiammal, S. M., & Sinha, S. (2024). Aloe vera vs chlorhexidine in preventing alveolar osteitis. Bioinformation, 20(9), 993. https://doi.org/10.6026/973206300200993
