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CC BY 4.0 · Eur J Dent 2024; 18(01): 397-400
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1769900
Brief Report

Effect of Chlorhexidine and Tea Tree Oil on Reducing the Number of Oral Microorganisms

André Luiz de Melo Moreno
1   Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Dentistry, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
,
Clóvis Lamartine de Moraes Melo Neto 
1   Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Dentistry, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
,
Marcelo Coelho Goiato 
1   Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Dentistry, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
2   Oral Oncology Center, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Dentistry, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
,
Nathaly Vilene de Araujo Moreno
3   Courses for Dentistry (Instituto de Excelência em Ensino e Pesquisa), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
,
Daniela Micheline dos Santos
1   Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Dentistry, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
2   Oral Oncology Center, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Dentistry, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
,
Cássia Cunha de Lima
1   Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Dentistry, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil
,
Rogério Heládio Lopes Motta
4   Area of Pharmacology, Anesthesiology and Therapeutics, São Leopoldo Mandic University, School of Dentistry, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
,
Juliana Cama Ramacciato 
4   Area of Pharmacology, Anesthesiology and Therapeutics, São Leopoldo Mandic University, School of Dentistry, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
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Abstract

Objectives Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the effect of using two preoperative mouthwashes (0.12% chlorhexidine and 0.2% tea tree oil) on the number of colonies of oral microorganisms.

Materials and Methods Forty participants who needed to be rehabilitated with dental implants were included in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups (chlorhexidine group and tea tree group; n = 20, each). For each group, saliva samples were collected at four different times: T0 (initially)—before using the mouthwash, T1—after 1 minute of using the mouthwash, T10—after 10 minutes of using the mouthwash, and T60—after 60 minutes of using the mouthwash. At T0 and T1, saliva samples were collected before implant placement surgery, and at T10 and T60, saliva samples were collected during surgery. In each group, one saliva sample was collected at each evaluated time point for each patient, totaling 4 saliva collections per patient. MSB agar (Mitis-Salivarius-Bacitracin) and BHI agar (Brain Heart Infusion) culture media were used in each group. Microbial colony counts were performed using a magnifying glass and recorded in CFU (colony forming units)/mL. Statistical analyses were performed using the Friedman, Mann–Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests (p < 0.05).

Results Based on MSB agar culture medium, at T0, the number of Streptococcus mutans colonies in the chlorhexidine group was significantly higher compared with the tea tree group (p <0.05; MSB agar). The chlorhexidine group showed significantly lower CFU/mL values for Streptococcus mutans at T1, T10, and T60 compared with the tea tree group (p <0.05; MSB agar). Based on BHI agar culture medium, at T0, the chlorhexidine group showed a significantly lower value of CFU/mL compared with the tea tree group (p < 0.05; BHI agar). At T1, T10, and T60, the chlorhexidine group showed significantly lower CFU/mL values compared with the tea tree group (p <0.05; BHI agar).

Conclusion Chlorhexidine is more indicated as a preoperative mouthwash than tea tree oil, due to its significantly more effective antimicrobial action.

Keywords

chlorhexidine - tea tree oil - dental plaque - dental implants - mouthwashes - Streptococcus mutans - Melaleuca


Publication History

Article published online:
02 August 2023

© 2023. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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