EFFECT OF GREEN TEA AS A MOUTH RINSE ON STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS

Plant extracts have been widely used in topical and oral applications for disease treatment. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of green tea as mouth rinse for children on plaque Streptococcus mutans and to compare it with that of a chlorhexidine mouth rinse. Plaque samples were tested for Streptococcus Colony Forming Units before and following a 21 day period of oral rinsing. A significant reduction in plaque S.mutans counts was observed with Green tea mouth rinse, which was not significantly different from that of the time tested chlorhexidine mouth rinse. The use of a green tea as a mouth rinse appears to be effective for regular use as part of a daily preventive regime in children