Comparison of the Side Effects of Chlorhexidine and Honey Mouthwash among Dental Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Side Effects of Chlorhexidine and Honey

Authors

  • Muhammad Abid Department of Periodontology, Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Rabia Rauf Department of Anatomy, Niazi Medical and Dental College, Sargodha, Pakistan
  • Afshan Siddiq Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Samreen Mazhar Department of Community Dentistry, Baqai Dental College, Baqai University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Hasan Afaq Zaidi Department of Operative Dentistry, Baqai Dental College, Baqai University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Urooj Zafar Department of Pharmacology, Baqai Dental College, Baqai University, Karachi, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v6i1.1970

Keywords:

Gingivitis, Chlorhexidine Gluconate, Honey Mouthwash, Oral Hygiene

Abstract

Gingivitis, primarily caused by bacterial plaque buildup, was managed through mechanical removal, though this requires consistency. Chemical agents like chlorhexidine mouthwash were effective but have notable side effects. honey, with its antibacterial properties, offers a potential alternative with fewer adverse effects. Objective: To compare the side effects of 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate and 10% honey mouthwash to determine which offers a safer and more comfortable option for oral hygiene in young adults. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted from June 2020 to December 2020 to compare the side effects of two oral care solutions, 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate and 10% honey mouthwash, among young adults. Sixty subjects were recruited from the Department of Periodontology at a tertiary care hospital of Karachi. The primary focus of the study was to observe and document any side effects associated with each mouthwash during and after three weeks of usage for plaque removal and gingival health. Results: The study revealed that participants in Group A (chlorhexidine) reported a higher incidence of adverse effects, including a pronounced bad taste, numbness in the mouth, and noticeable tooth discoloration. In contrast, Group B (honey) participants generally reported a pleasant taste, with significantly fewer and milder side effects. Conclusions: Honey mouthwash offers a more comfortable user experience with fewer negative side effects, including a pleasant taste. This makes it a promising alternative for individuals seeking an effective and gentle approach to maintaining oral health. 

References

Sreenivasan PK and Prasad KV. Effects of a chlorhexidine mouthwash on clinical parameters of gingivitis, dental plaque and oral polymorphonuclear leukocytes [PMN]. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications. 2020 Sep; 19: 100473. doi: 10.1016/j.conctc.2019.100473.

Abdulkareem A, Abdulbaqi H, Gul S, Milward M, Chasib N, Alhashimi R. Classic vs. Novel antibacterial approaches for eradicating dental biofilm as adjunct to periodontal debridement: An evidence-based overview. Antibiotics. 2021 Dec; 11(1): 9. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics11010009.

Abid M, Baig MI, Khurshid A, Kumar A, Farooq S, Iqbal Z. Comparing the efficacy of Chlorhexidine Mouthwash and Natural Honey in Reducing Plaque and Improving Gingival Health. A Randomized Controlled Trial: Plaque Reduction and Gingival Health. Pakistan Journal of Health Sciences. 2024 May: 95-9. doi: 10.54393/pjhs.v5i05.1548.

Reddy V, Bennadi D, Satish G, Divya G, Reddy CV. Effectiveness of tea tree oil and chlorhexidine as mouth rinse in the control of dental plaque and chronic gingivitis-A comparative study. European Journal of Molecular and Clinical Medicine. 2020 Mar; 7(8): 1576-82. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1703999.

Abid M, Quareshi S, Zehra T. Comparative efficacy of the Antiplaque Effect of Natural Honey Mouthwash and Chlorhexidine Mouthwash. A randomized controlled trial. Annals Of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital And Karachi Medical & Dental College. 2022 Mar; 27(1): 46-52. doi: 10.58397/ashkmdc.v27i1.541.

Solderer A, Kaufmann M, Hofer D, Wiedemeier D, Attin T, Schmidlin PR. Efficacy of chlorhexidine rinses after periodontal or implant surgery: a systematic review. Clinical Oral Investigations. 2019 Jan; 23: 21-32. doi: 10.1007/s00784-018-2761-y.

Pandiyan I, Rathinavelu PK, Arumugham MI, Srisakthi D, Balasubramaniam A. Efficacy of Chitosan and Chlorhexidine Mouthwash on Dental Plaque and Gingival inflammation: a systematic review. Cureus. 2022 Mar; 14(3). doi: 10.7759/cureus.23318.

Hemmingsen LM, Panchai P, Julin K, Basnet P, Nystad M, Johannessen M et al. Chitosan-based delivery system enhances antimicrobial activity of chlorhexidine. Frontiers in Microbiology. 2022 Sep; 13: 1023083. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1023083.

Kumar AS, Hiremath MC, Srinath SK, Nayak RJ, Yadav K, Chetana GS. Comparative Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Green Tea Herbal Mouth-wash and 0.2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate Mouthwash against Streptococcus mutans in Dental Plaque-A Randomized Controlled Trial. RGUHS Journal of Dental Sciences. 2023; 15(3). doi: 10.26463/rjds.15_3_9.

Petrovski M, Terzieva-Petrovska O, Taskov T, Papakoca K. Side effects associated with chlorhexidine mouthwashes use. Macedonian pharmaceutical bulletin. 2022;68(sup 1):377-8. Doi: 10.33320/maced.pharm.bull.2022.68.03.182

Amiri H, Ramezani-Badr F, Sigari N, Nasseri K. Comparative efficacy of honey 12.5% and chlorhexidine 0.2% mouthwashes on the oropharyngeal bacterial colonization in mechanically-ventilated patients: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2020 Jun; 40(3): 440-446. doi: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2020.03.012.

Chye RM, Perrotti V, Piattelli A, Iaculli F, Quaranta A. Effectiveness of different commercial chlorhexidine-based mouthwashes after periodontal and implant surgery: a systematic review. Implant Dentistry. 2019 Feb; 28(1): 74-85. doi: 10.1097/ID.0000000000000854.

Tartaglia GM, Tadakamadla SK, Connelly ST, Sforza C, Martín C. Adverse events associated with home use of mouthrinses: a systematic review. Therapeutic advances in drug safety. 2019 Sep;10:2042098619854881. Doi: 10.1177/ 204209861985488

Deus FP, Ouanounou A. Chlorhexidine in dentistry: pharmacology, uses, and adverse effects. International dental journal. 2022 Jun 1; 72(3):269-77. Brookes ZL, Bescos R, Belfield LA, Ali K, Roberts A. Current uses of chlorhexidine for management of oral disease: a narrative review. Journal of Dentistry. 2020 Dec; 103: 103497. doi:10.1016/j.identj.2022.01.005

Guerra F, Pasqualotto D, Rinaldo F, Mazur M, Corridore D, Nofroni I et al. Therapeutic efficacy of chlorhexidine‐based mouthwashes and its adverse events: performance‐related evaluation of mouthwashes added with Anti‐Discoloration System and cetylpyridinium chloride. International Journal of Dental Hygiene. 2019 Aug; 17(3): 229-36. doi: 10.1111/idh.12371.

Kaur S and Kour K. Short term side effects of 0.2% and 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthwash. IP International Journal of Periodontology and Implantology. 2020 Dec; 4(4): 138-40. doi: 10.18231/j.ijpi.2019.029.

Petrovski M, Terzieva-Petrovska O, Taskov T, Papakoca K. Side effects associated with chlorhexidine mouthwashes use. Macedonian Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 2022; 68(1): 377-8. doi: 10.33320/maced.pharm.bull.2022.68.03.182.

Haydari M, Bardakci AG, Koldsland OC, Aass AM, Sandvik L, Preus HR. Comparing the effect of 0.06%-, 0.12% and 0.2% Chlorhexidine on plaque, bleeding and side effects in an experimental gingivitis model: a parallel group, double masked randomized clinical trial. BioMed Central Oral Health. 2017 Dec; 17: 1-8. doi: 10.1186/s12903-017-0400-7.

Potdar P, Kandawalla SA, Mitra DK. Comparative Evaluation of the Antiplaque Effect of unprocessed Honey Mouthwash, Manuka Honey Mouthwash and Chlorhexidine Mouthwash. Clinical Dentistry. 2021 Feb; 15(2). doi: 10.33882/ClinicalDent.15.27516.

Waqar SM, Razi A, Qureshi SS, Saher F, Zaidi SJ, Kumar C. Comparative evaluation of propolis mouthwash with 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash as an adjunct to mechanical therapy in improving the periodontitis among perimenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Oral Health. 2024 Jan; 24(1): 26. doi: 10.1186/s12903-023-03768-4.

Jain A, Singh V, Lukram A, Chatterjee S, Khan AM, Dawar G. Antibacterial efficacy of manuka honey, ocimum sanctum, curcuma longa and 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash on the level of streptococcus mutans and lactobacillus acidophilus-A randomized controlled trial. Indian Journal of Dental Research. 2022 Apr; 33(2): 169-73. doi: 10.4103/ijdr.ijdr_159_22.

Downloads

Published

2025-01-31
CITATION
DOI: 10.54393/pjhs.v6i1.1970
Published: 2025-01-31

How to Cite

Abid, M., Rauf, R., Siddiq, A., Mazhar, S., Zaidi, H. A., & Zafar, U. (2025). Comparison of the Side Effects of Chlorhexidine and Honey Mouthwash among Dental Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial: Side Effects of Chlorhexidine and Honey. Pakistan Journal of Health Sciences, 6(1), 75–79. https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v6i1.1970

Issue

Section

Original Article

Plaudit