Advantages of using toothpaste containing propolis and plant oils for gingivitis prevention and oral cavity hygiene in cleft lip/palate patients

Background: The anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action of preparations used during oral hygiene procedures is particularly important in patients with oral cleft. Few reports have been published assessing the influence of natural products on the state of the oral cavity in patients with oral cleft. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of toothpaste containing Polish propolis and plant oils on oral cavity health in patients with oral cleft treated orthodontically. Materials and methods: A total of 50 patients aged 9–16 years old (20 females, 23 males) were selected and randomly assigned into two groups. Group (A) received toothpaste with Polish propolis, tea tree oil, menthol, and rosemary oil. Group (B) received toothpaste without active ingredients (placebo). A baseline assessment was followed by an oral hygiene index (OHI, debris OHI-D, and calculus OHI-C component) and gingival bleeding index (GBI) after 35 days. The methodology of the oral condition assessment included the presence of cleft malformation as a dysmorphic of the anterior maxilla segment. Results: In group A, improvement in oral cavity hygiene assessed for incisors and molars was found (OHI-T p = 0.011). For the gingival condition, a decrease in the gingival bleeding index - total (GBI-T p = 0.002), as well as for the incisors (GBI-I p = 0.007) and molars (GBI-M p = 0.017) was found. Conclusions: This research confirms the biological effectiveness of toothpaste with Polish propolis and plant oils. These results may be clinically useful for improving preventative oral care and for control of oral infectious diseases during orthodontic treatment in patients with oral cleft