Garlic mouthwash is going viral: Scientists call it an effective antimicrobial option |

Garlic‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ mouthwash has become a popular choice among people who desire an effective but gentle antimicrobial agent for their oral hygiene routine. Generally, the use of chemical agents like chlorhexidine has been prevalent in the market of mouthwashes; however, they have their known disadvantages, such as teeth stains, temporary taste changes, and irritation. So in response to this, a good number of people have decided to switch to more natural products that would still be able to fight the bacteria. One of the oldest remedies in the world, garlic extract, is coming back to the table in the scientific world due to its bioactive substances. Recent publications and reviews have been re-evaluating this potential, which results in garlic being the subject of a fresh clinical study to find out if it can really serve as a part of daily oral hygiene.

How strong is garlic as an antimicrobial mouthwash

A systematic review published in the Journal of Herbal Medicine brought together existing laboratory and clinical studies to evaluate the antimicrobial potency of garlic. As a result, chlorhexidine remains the standard to which all other antimicrobial rinses are compared; therefore, any such comparison is quite ambitious. The review, however, found that one can achieve a significant reduction of bacterial load in the saliva if one uses garlic extract that is properly prepared and in the right concentration. In several cases, the performance as a replacement to chlorhexidine was even reached at a level which pushed the researchers to investigate further.The paper further emphasised that concentration has a very significant impact on the results obtained; a weaker preparation may yield inconsistent results, whereas a stronger one is likely to produce obvious antimicrobial effects. Even though the overall pool of research is still limited, the trend is positive – garlic extract seems to have substantial antimicrobial activity. This increasing proof has led to the positioning of garlic in the ongoing oral hygiene panel as one of the possible tools for people using plant-based alternatives with a scientific background.

What makes garlic effective against oral pathogens

The main thing in garlic extract that makes it work is the allicin. It is a very reactive compound that is generated as the garlic is broken or cut. It is the same thing that causes the unique smell of garlic, but it is also a strong antimicrobial agent. Allicin is good at attacking a number of different systems in bacteria that it uses for life, which is why it is active in a broad range of microbial groups of different strains. Because of this, it is being seen again as a contender for the oral microbial load reduction method without the use of synthetic agents.The possible mechanisms linking allicin to sulphur compounds and potential include:

How to use garlic mouthwash for best results

Using garlic extract as a mouthwash is more or less the same as using a regular rinse, but the preparation is important. Since allicin is a very unstable compound, the extract has to be dealt with in a way that it retains its power. In the research projects, the people usually swished the solution for a time that was long enough to provide the teeth, gums, tongue and inner cheeks with contact. The antimicrobial effects became more visible when the extract was used at effective concentrations and over a period of several days or weeks consistently.Most clinical or controlled scenarios have been taking the same steps:

How to maximise the benefits of garlic mouthwash

The garlic extract is not used as a mouthwash, unlike a typical rinse, but the preparation is important. The most common component of allicin is a highly reactive compound, allicin, which is released when garlic is crushed or chopped. It is the same compound that is responsible for the strong odour of garlic, but it is also a strong antimicrobial agent. Allicin is regarded as an agent for bacterial interference in several systems that bacteria use, which is why it shows broad activity for different microbial groups. Due to that it is coming back as a candidate for oral microbial load reduction without synthetic agents.

Rising interest in garlic extract in dental research

Regardless of these problems, garlic’s comeback is a part of a bigger change toward natural health products and the increased unwillingness to rely only on synthetic chemicals. Its long use as a medicine, along with the scientific understanding of allicin getting deeper, makes it a worthwhile subject for researchers to explore as an alternative antimicrobial agent. With the problem of antimicrobial resistance getting bigger, it is more important than ever to find ingredients that work through different mechanisms. Although garlic mouthwash cannot be a direct replacement for chlorhexidine, the preliminary results suggest that it may be able to provide support, especially for those who prefer botanical or traditional remedies. Moreover, as research goes further and the methods of extraction become more uniform, garlic extract may slowly be integrated into modern oral-care ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌routines.Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition or lifestyle change.Also Read | Coffee might be slowing down your body’s ageing clock, new research hints