Effectiveness of green tea mouthwash in comparison to chlorhexidine mouthwash in patients with acute pericoronitis: a randomized clinical trial

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of green tea mouthwash in controlling the pain and trismus associated with acute pericoronitis in comparison to chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash. Ninety-seven patients with acute pericoronitis underwent debridement and received 5% green tea mouthwash (study group) or 0.12% CHX mouth rinse (control group). Pain (visual analogue scale; VAS), number of analgesics, maximum mouth opening (MMO), and number of patients with trismus were determined. There were no significant differences in demographic variables (P > 0.05), or baseline VAS (P > 0.006), MMO (P > 0.017) or number of patients with trismus (P > 0.017) between the two groups. The mean VAS score of the study group was statistically lower than that of the control group between post-treatment days 3 and 5 (P < 0.006). A significantly lower number of analgesics were taken by the study group (P < 0.05). Although the MMO of the study group was significantly lower on day 3 (P < 0.017), no significant difference was observed on day 7 (P > 0.017). Fewer of the patients rinsing with green tea had trismus on days 3 and 7, but the difference was non-significant (P > 0.017). Hence, green tea mouth rinse could be an appropriate and effective choice for the control of pain and trismus in acute pericoronitis.