Abstract
This study compared the clinical efficacy of different mouthwashes [0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX), 0.5%, 1% water extract of propolis, 0.5%, 1% ethanolic extract of propolis] with distil-led water in their ability to inhibit plaque accumulation. In this double blind study, 10 (8 males and 2 females) dental students volunteers aged from 20-24 years, 1120 tooth surfaces from 280 teeth were examined. Each volunteer received a final professional tooth cleansing and was instructed to stop all mechanical tooth cleaning effort for next 5 days, where the mouthwashes used 3 times daily. Plaque system index (Silness and Löe, 1964) was obtained from teeth surfaces (buccal, lingual, mesial and distal) before and after the uses of mouthwashes. The results of this study showed significant difference (p < 0.05) between 0.2% CHX, 0.5% and 1% water extract of propolis, 0.5% ethanolic extract of propolis and distilled water, but non significant difference (p > 0.05) between CHX and 1% ethanolic extract of propolis in their ability to inhibit plaque accu-mulation. It can be concluded that the alcoholic extract of propolis may be used as adjunct to mechanical plaque control during the maintenance phase of therapy to ensure sustained low plaque level and this may meet patient approval because it is a natural substance and devoid of industrial chemical component.
