Licorice vs. Chlorhexidine Mouthwash for Oral Health in ICU Patients

Jim Crocker
13th June, 2024

Licorice vs. Chlorhexidine Mouthwash for Oral Health in ICU Patients

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • Researchers at Hamadan University of Medical Sciences studied the effects of licorice mouthwash on oral health in ICU patients in Iran
  • Both licorice and chlorhexidine mouthwashes significantly improved oral health in intubated patients
  • Chlorhexidine was more effective in reducing dental plaque and thinning saliva compared to licorice mouthwash
Oral health is a critical aspect of overall well-being, especially for intubated patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Maintaining proper oral hygiene can help prevent hospital-acquired infections, including pneumonia. Traditionally, chlorhexidine mouthwash has been employed for this purpose, but it may have some adverse effects. Researchers at Hamadan University of Medical Sciences conducted a study to explore the potential of licorice mouthwash as an alternative[1]. The study involved 130 intubated patients in an ICU in Iran. These patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group A received 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash, while Group B was given 20% licorice mouthwash. Both mouthwashes were applied twice daily for 5.5 days, and the Beck Oral Assessment Scale (BOAS) was used to measure oral health before and after the intervention. The results showed that both mouthwashes significantly improved the oral health of intubated patients. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of overall oral health improvement post-intervention (P = 0.06). Chlorhexidine mouthwash was more effective in reducing dental plaque and thinning saliva compared to licorice mouthwash. This study aligns with earlier research examining the benefits of licorice in oral health. Licorice contains bioactive ingredients such as glycyrrhizin and glabridin, which have shown potential beneficial effects in treating oral diseases[2]. Additionally, another study found that licorice mouthwash could be a promising alternative to synthetic mouthwashes like chlorhexidine, especially for reducing salivary Streptococcus mutans levels in high caries risk patients[3]. The findings from Hamadan University of Medical Sciences suggest that licorice mouthwash could serve as a viable alternative to chlorhexidine in ICU settings, particularly for patients who may experience adverse effects from chlorhexidine. This is particularly relevant considering the need for effective oral hygiene protocols to reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP)[4]. A previous quality improvement project demonstrated that implementing an oral care protocol, including the use of appropriate mouthwashes, significantly reduced the incidence of non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)[4]. In conclusion, while chlorhexidine remains a more effective option for reducing dental plaque and thinning saliva, licorice mouthwash offers a comparable improvement in overall oral health. This makes it a suitable alternative in cases where chlorhexidine may not be ideal. Further research could help refine these findings and potentially expand the use of licorice mouthwash in clinical settings.

HerbsMedicineHealth

References

Main Study

1) Comparison of the effect of licorice and chlorhexidine mouthwash on the oral health of intubated patients in the intensive care unit.

Published 12th June, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-024-04456-7

Related Studies

2) Licorice and its potential beneficial effects in common oro-dental diseases.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1601-0825.2011.01842.x

3) Efficacy of Licorice on Salivary Streptococcus mutans Levels vs Chlorhexidine Mouthwash in High Caries Risk Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Journal: The journal of contemporary dental practice, Issue: Vol 22, Issue 8, Aug 2021

4) A Nurse-Driven Oral Care Protocol to Reduce Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia.

https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000553204.21342.01


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