Dental plaque can lead to dental caries and gingivitis. Streptococcus mutans is a common microorganism that causes dental plaque. Improper tooth-brushing techniques used by some children are inadequate in removing plaque. In children, mouthwashes could help prevent plaque formation and could be an alternative to chlorhexidine and triclosan mouthwashes, which are associated with adverse effects, such as teeth staining and altered taste. Aloe vera (Aloe vera, Asphodelaceae) and tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia, Myrtaceae) oil have reported antibacterial and antifungal effects, and have been used for oral health. These authors conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, prospective, interventional study to compare the efficacy of herbal mouthwashes containing 7% aloe vera and 0.2% tea tree oil with chlorhexidine mouthwash used by schoolchildren.

The study was conducted at the Department of Paedodontics and Preventive Dentistry at the Manipal College of Dental Sciences in Manipal, India. Schoolchildren aged 8-14 years and enrolled in one…