'Triphala mouthwash best for rural/oral health'

  A cost-effective mouthwash, prepared with herb triphala, can be as effective as the commercially available chlorhexidine (a common component in popular mouthwashes) in preventing dental caries such as dental plaque, gingival inflammation and microbial growth.
This was found by researchers from dental colleges based in Haryana and Karnataka after conducting a study on 1,431 students in the age-group of 8-12 years having the same socio-economic status and oral hygiene practices.
Dentist Neeti Bajaj from Haryana-based PDM Dental College and Research Institute and Shobha Tandon, from Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal, Karnataka had divided the students in three groups for the study purpose.

One of the groups was given triphala mouthwash, the other one was instructed to rinse their mouth with chlorohexidine while the third group was given distilled water for the purpose for nine months.
On studying their oral health, the authors found that triphala and chlorhexidine had similar inhibitory effect on plaque, gingivitis, and growth of streptococcus mutans and lactobacillus. In fact, in prevention of lactobacillus, triphala has shown better results than chlorhexidine because of the former's antibacterial activity.
However, distilled water did not help in significant reduction in the Streptococcus mutans counts, it was found.
"Effect of distilled water on oral health status indicated that simple mechanical rinsing with water is not adequate to show any positive results," said the researchers.
The study which is published in the recent edition of the International Journal of Ayurveda Research of the Ayush Department of the Union Health Ministry was conducted after ethics committee approval and written consent from guardians were obtained as per rules
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The authors concluded that Ayurveda-based regimens such as triphala mouthwash can easily replace chlorhexidine as intense antimicrobial, palatable, and cost-effective preventive strategies in the country particularly in rural areas where a large number of people suffer from dental caries which can be cured with mouth rinsing.
But villagers do not have capacity to purchase costly dental products. However, the researchers note that more scientific work needs to be carried out to prove the efficacy of the triphala which in Ayurveda, a traditional medical system of India, is known as a best herbal remedy.
In ayurvedic medicine, triphala is used for treating infections, digestive disorders, cardiovascular problems and many other conditions. Traditionally, it has been recommended as a daily or weekly supplement to maintain general health. Such uses are thought to arise from its laxative properties, which are believed to help "detoxify" the body by eliminating unwanted materials that accumulate from the diet.
Analyses of triphala extracts show that they contain vitamin C, antioxidants and a number of other ingredients while various animal studies have shown that the herb can reduce blood cholesterol levels and have other beneficial effects on blood lipids.

Cortesy news: Pioneer (India)