ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT07822256Updated Sep 16, 2026

Chlorhexidine vs Essential Oil Mouthwash for Plaque Control

An interventional study of Chlorhexidine Gluconate Mouthwash and Essential Oil mouthwash in Gingivitis Infection and Dental Plaque, sponsored by Rehman Medical Institute - RMI. Completed at 1 site in Pakistan. Open to participants aged 15 Years to 25 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-16.

Sponsored by Rehman Medical Institute - RMI · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 7 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Feb 2026, registered Sep 2026).

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Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
60
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
15 Years to 25 Years
Sex
All
01

Where this study stands

Counted across the records on this site · 2026-11-14

Among 15 studies in Dental Plaque with a site in Pakistan — 3 open to participants now, 3 under way, none of them phase 3. Dental Plaque · Pakistan.

Enrollment
6th of 14
60 · median 60
Started
2026
the only one that year
No phase
13 of 15
3 open now
Registered
13th of 15
by date
Lead sponsor
2 of 15
Rehman Medical Institute - RMI

Among the 15 studies in Dental Plaque with a site in Pakistan, this one is the 6th largest by enrollment of the 14 interventional ones that give a count, is the only one that started in 2026, is one of 13 with no phase, and was the 13th registered.

Dental Plaque

352 studies on the registry are indexed under Dental Plaque; 60 are open to participants now.

Browse Dental Plaque studies →

Open to participants now

3 of the 15 studies in Dental Plaque with a site in Pakistan are open now. Recruiting first, the newest first:

All 3 open studies →

A study can be open while its sites in Pakistan have not opened yet or have stopped. Only those recruiting at a site in Pakistan →

Who these studies take

Of the 35 Dental Plaque studies recruiting now, 10 (29%) set no upper age limit and 20 (57%) stop at 75 or younger; 14 take children under 18; 22 take healthy volunteers.

This study: 15 Years to 25 Years · all sexes · no healthy volunteers.

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Watch this landscapeDownload CSVNarrow it in search →With an account: a weekly mail of what changed among 15 studies in Dental Plaque with a site in Pakistan, or all of them as a file.
02

Study summary

Dental plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth and can lead to gum disease if it is not removed regularly. Brushing and flossing help control plaque, but many people also use a mouthwash to help clean areas that are hard to reach.

This study compares two common types of mouthwash to see which one works better at reducing plaque: a mouthwash containing chlorhexidine (a medicated antibacterial ingredient) and a mouthwash containing essential oils (natural plant-based ingredients). Both are widely used, but they work in different ways and may cause different side effects.

Sixty patients between the ages of 15 and 25 who had gum inflammation (gingivitis) took part. Half of the patients used the chlorhexidine mouthwash twice a day, and the other half used the essential oil mouthwash twice a day, for three months. Researchers measured the amount of plaque on each patient's teeth at the start of the study and again after three months, using a standard scoring method. They also recorded how well patients stuck to the mouthwash routine and any side effects they experienced, such as changes in taste, staining of the teeth, or a burning feeling in the mouth.

The goal of this study is to help patients and dental care providers understand the benefits and drawbacks of each mouthwash, so they can choose the option that best fits their needs - whether that is stronger plaque control for a short period of time, or a milder option that may be more comfortable for longer-term use.

Read the detailed description

Dental plaque is one of the main causes of gum inflammation and periodontal (gum) disease. While brushing and flossing remain the primary way to remove plaque, mechanical cleaning alone often cannot fully reach all tooth surfaces. As a result, chemical mouthwashes are commonly recommended as an additional way to control plaque.

Chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash is considered one of the most effective plaque-control products because it kills a broad range of bacteria and stays active in the mouth for an extended period. However, longer-term use has been associated with side effects such as tooth staining and taste changes. Mouthwashes containing essential oils (plant-derived antibacterial ingredients such as thymol and menthol) are often used as a gentler alternative, though their plaque-reducing effect compared to chlorhexidine has varied across previous studies.

This randomized clinical trial was conducted at the Department of Periodontics, Rehman College of Dentistry, Peshawar, from February 2026 to August 2026. Sixty participants aged 15-25 years with gingivitis (gum inflammation without bone or attachment loss) were enrolled and divided into two equal groups of 30. Group I used a 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash twice daily, and Group II used an essential oil mouthwash twice daily, both for a period of three months. Participants were selected using a non-probability consecutive sampling method, and all received professional teeth cleaning (scaling and polishing) before starting the study, followed by a 10-day period to allow a consistent starting point for plaque measurement.

Plaque levels were measured using the Silness and Löe Plaque Index, a standard scoring method that assesses plaque on six specific teeth at the start of the study and again after three months. The dental examiner who scored the plaque levels was not told which mouthwash each participant had been using, to reduce bias in the assessment. All participants were given the same basic oral hygiene instructions (brushing twice daily), so that any difference in outcomes could be more clearly linked to the mouthwash itself.

Researchers compared plaque scores, percentage reduction in plaque, participant compliance with the assigned mouthwash routine, and any reported side effects between the two groups. Statistical methods included ANCOVA to compare three-month plaque scores while accounting for each participant's starting plaque level, along with t-tests and chi-square tests for other comparisons.

The findings may help dental care providers and patients weigh the trade-offs between stronger antiplaque effects and a more favorable side-effect profile when choosing a mouthwash for short-term versus longer-term use.

03

Conditions studied

  • Gingivitis Infection
  • Dental Plaque

Browse trials for

Keywords

  • Chlorhexidine
  • Essential Oils
  • Mouthwash
  • Dental Plaque
  • Plaque Control
04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
15 Years to 25 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  1. Age 15-25 years
  2. Diagnosis of gingivitis (inflammatory condition of the gums without attachment or bone loss)
  3. Willingness to provide written (or parental/guardian consent plus assent, for minors)

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Periodontitis
  2. Known allergy or to chlorhexidine
  3. Any systemic disease that could affect periodontal health
  4. Current antibiotic therapy
  5. Presence of anterior composite restorations
  6. Visible enamel decalcification
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(2)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
60 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Chlorhexidine Mouthwash Group

    Participants (n=30) used a 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash, gargling twice daily for 30 seconds, for a period of three months. All participants also received standard oral hygiene instructions, including brushing twice daily with a toothbrush and toothpaste.

    Drug: Chlorhexidine Gluconate Mouthwash

  • Experimental
    Essential Oil Mouthwash Group

    Participants (n=30) used an essential oil-containing mouthwash twice daily for three months. Participants were instructed not to swallow the mouthwash and not to rinse their mouth with water after gargling. All participants also received standard oral hygiene instructions, including brushing twice daily with a toothbrush and toothpaste.

    Drug: Essential Oil mouthwash

Interventions

  • A 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse used twice daily for 30 seconds over a three-month period. Chlorhexidine is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent with high substantivity, allowing it to bind to oral surfaces and provide sustained antiplaque action.

  • An essential oil-containing oral rinse used twice daily over a three-month period. The formulation contains plant-derived antimicrobial compounds such as thymol and menthol, which act by disrupting microbial cell membrane integrity and reducing bacterial aggregation. Participants were instructed not to rinse with water after use.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Plaque Index Score

    Dental plaque was measured using the Silness and Löe Plaque Index on six selected teeth (16, 11, 26, 36, 31, and 46), scoring each tooth's distal, buccal, mesial, and lingual/palatal surfaces from 0 (no plaque) to 3 (abundant plaque in the gingival sulcus or margin).

    Time frame: Baseline and 3 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Percentage Reduction in Plaque Index

    The percentage decrease in Plaque Index score from baseline to 3 months was calculated for each participant and compared between the chlorhexidine and essential oil mouthwash groups.

    Time frame: Baseline to 3 months

  2. Incidence of Adverse Events

    Adverse events associated with mouthwash use, including altered taste, tooth staining, and mild burning sensation, were recorded for each participant and compared

    Time frame: 3 months

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Rehman Medical Institute - RMI
    Peshawar, Pakistan
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Ran from Feb 2026 to primary completion in Aug 2026, 6 months.

Of 133 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Dental Plaque, half reached primary completion within 7 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 3 and three quarters within 16. This study's 6 months is below that.

Counting every sponsor, half of 178 studies reached it within 6 months; a quarter within 2 and three quarters within 14.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Sep 10, 2026
First posted
Sep 16, 2026
StartActual
Feb 3, 2026
Primary completionActual
Aug 10, 2026
CompletionActual
Aug 28, 2026
Last update
Sep 16, 2026
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 16, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07822256
Lead sponsor
Rehman Medical Institute - RMI
Responsible party
Aimen Ishtiaq (PG Trainee, Rehman Medical Institute - RMI) — Principal investigator
First posted
Sep 16, 2026
Start date
Feb 3, 2026
Primary completion
Aug 10, 2026
Completion
Aug 28, 2026
Last update
Sep 16, 2026

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Sep 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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Discussion

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Studies of the drug tested here: Oils, Volatile

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