Garlic extract best for internal oral hygiene

A new study has found that garlic juice may have the same antibacterial properties as a common mouthwash.

According to the study, garlic can act as an alternative to natural oral care. Garlic is classified as a vegetable, it is widely used as a flavoring and spice in cooking.

It is known as the most powerful naturally occurring plant antiseptic and scientists are trying to use one of the compounds found in it, allicin.

Previous studies also showed that garlic extract can be used to kill germs inside the oral cavity and inside the root canal system of teeth.

Scientists from the University of Sharjah have now suggested that garlic extract can be developed as an alternative to mouthwash due to its antibacterial properties, which are similar to common antiseptic chemicals such as chlorhexidine.

Scientists say garlic can be a little uncomfortable to use due to its smell, but its extract remains active longer after use than chlorhexidine.

Chlorhexidine is widely used as the gold standard mouthwash, but it is associated with side effects and concerns about antibiotic resistance, the researchers write in the Journal of Herbal Medicine.

Garlic, known for its natural antibacterial properties, has emerged as a potential alternative, they say, with research looking at how garlic extract performs in real-world clinical settings, including whether it could serve as an alternative to the herb.

Researchers found evidence that mouthwashes containing high concentrations of garlic extract may be as effective as chlorhexidine in reducing bacteria, with effectiveness varying based on the concentration of the mouthwash and the duration of use, which may account for the differences in results.

The scientists added that some studies supported chlorhexidine in maintaining a higher plaque/saliva pH, while others reported that garlic extract was more effective at specific concentrations.

The researchers also noted that garlic mouthwash may cause more discomfort, such as mild irritation and unpleasant odor, which they said could be addressed in further studies. In the study, garlic significantly reduced bacterial counts.

The researchers stressed that further studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness and improve clinical application of using garlic as an alternative mouthwash to the gold standard antiseptic mouthwash chemical chlorhexidine, requiring larger sample sizes and extended follow-up.