Clinical Assessment of the Effect of Hypericum perforatum Chewing Gum on Salivary Streptococcus mutans Count, pH, Plaque Index, and Gingival Bleeding: A Randomized Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVES: Hypericum perforatum L. offers several beneficial effects, for example antioxidant, antitumor, wound healing. Our aim was to ascertain the effect of H. perforatum extract gum on salivary Streptococcus mutans count, pH, plaque index, and gingival bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 54 participants were assigned into two groups of gum with or without herbal extract. Unstimulated saliva was collected to assess Streptococcus mutans and pH. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in plaque index were observed between before and after use of gum in both groups (p < 0.01). There was a significant difference in plaque index after applying H. perforatum gum compared to placebo (p < 0.01). Statistically significant differences in gum bleeding between before and after use of herbal gum were observed (p < 0.01), but no significant difference was observed in gum bleeding between before and after gum use in placebo group (p = 0.24). A significant difference was observed in gum bleeding between herbal and placebo groups (p < 0.01). There was significant difference in Streptococcus mutans count between before and after gum use in both groups in two measurements (p < 0.01). Further, there was a significant difference in Streptococcus mutans count between herbal gum and placebo groups in two measurements (p < 0.01). Significant differences were observed in salivary pH between before and after consuming gum in herbal gum and placebo groups (p < 0.01 and p = 0.003, respectively). No significant difference in salivary pH was observed between two groups (p = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Our results revealed gum formulation of H. perforatum extract had significant effects on lowering salivary Streptococci mutans count, plaque index, and gingival bleeding compared to gum without extract group as well as their amounts before gum use. Although both gums elevated salivary pH, there was no statistically significant difference in short-term measurements. Under the conditions of this study, H. perforatum gum can be considered a promising adjutant for oral health improvement.