Stain Removal Efficacy of Herbal Mouth Rinses Containing Sodium Hexametaphosphate

Objective: To evaluate the stain removal efficacy of herbal mouth rinses containing sodium hexametaphosphate. Materials and methods: A total of 30 freshly extracted teeth were selected and buccal surfaces were cut to obtain enamel specimens. These slabs were then incubated at 37 o C in the mixed human saliva for 24 h for plaque formation. They were then immersed in freshly prepared staining solution and incubated for 24 h. Digital images of each enamel slab were captured using a high-resolution digital camera under standard lighting conditions using specially designed appliance. The enamel slabs were rinsed thoroughly with either type of mouth rinse samples for 1 min for a period of 14 days. The amount of in vitro stain was graded digitally before and after rinsing using LAB (L*a*b*) colour assessment (Adobe Photoshop version 8.0). Results: There was a significant increase in the mean L* score after 14 days when compared with the baseline in all the three mouth rinse groups (P<0.001, <0.001 and <0.001, respectively), while there was significant decrease in the mean a* (P<0.001, <0.001 and <0.001, respectively) and b* scores (P = 0.005, 0.001 and 0.01, respectively) in all the three mouth rinse groups after 14 days when compared with the baseline. The mean E in groups A and B was significantly higher than in group C. Conclusion: The new herbal rinse can be a suitable alternative to peroxide-based whitening rinses without any potentially harmful effects.