Amid growing awareness about the long-term consequences of chemical agents like chlorhexidine, people are adopting a unique garlic mouthwash as a more natural remedy to safeguard oral hygiene. The garlic mouthwash,
whose antimicrobial elements and natural oral disease counteraction have turned it into a people’s favourite, has also caught the attention of scientists and oral health experts in America.
The garlic extract is one of the oldest oral remedies in the world due to its bioactive substances and natural elements. A recent set of reviews by a publication based in the United States focused on the benefits of garlic, with clinical studies conducted to ascertain whether it can serve as a part of regular oral hygiene.
Garlic As an Anti-Bacterial Mouthwash
The antimicrobial potency of garlic was studied extensively in official laboratories by the Journal of Herbal Medicine, according to the systematic review published by it recently. The review suggested that chlorhexidine should remain the standardised oral hygiene chemical for now, and any significant replacement of the same is ambitious. However, researchers did mention that the garlic extract is capable of reducing the bacterial load in saliva significantly if used properly and in the right concentration.
In some cases, the review highlighted that the potential chlorhexidine substitute gave really encouraging results and pushed the researchers to further study the extract and its beneficial qualities. The garlic extract works superbly against oral pathogens due to allicin, a reactive compound that is generated as the garlic is broken or cut. The allicin is a strong antimicrobial agent that is great at attacking different systems in bacteria. It is allicin and its oral microbial load reduction method that raised the possibility of garlic replacing the synthetic agents.
How Best To Use The Garlic Mouthwash
While a garlic mouthwash can be used in the same way as a regular water rinse, the preparation of the extract is critical. As allicin is an unstable compound, the garlic extract has to be dealt with care so as to allow it to retain its power.
During the research conducted by the Journal of Herbal Medicine, people usually swished the solution for a length that best allowed the extract to contact the teeth, gums, tongue and inner cheeks.
It is advised that people should rinse the extract for about 30 seconds to one minute so that the solution coats all oral tissues. The antimicrobial impact of the extract became more evident during the research when the extract was used at an effective concentration for days and weeks.
