Pure green tea mouthwash versus placebo and essential-oil rinses for plaque and gum inflammation

The Antiplaque and Antigingivitis Effect of Pure Green Tea Mouth Wash Compared to Placebo and Essential Oils Mouth Washes: A Double Blinded Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Not applicable Interventional King Abdullah University Hospital · NCT07364565

This trial will see if rinsing twice daily with a pure green tea mouthwash reduces dental plaque and gum inflammation in healthy adults compared with placebo and two commercial mouthwashes.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment44 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorKing Abdullah University Hospital Academic / other
Locations1 site (Irbid, Irbid Governorate)
Trial IDNCT07364565 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a double-blinded, randomized, parallel-group trial comparing four mouthrinses: pure green tea, Listerine Total Care, Listerine Green Tea, and a flavored placebo. Healthy non-smoking adults aged 18–50 who meet periodontal-health criteria will stop mechanical oral hygiene and rinse with 10 ml of their assigned mouthwash for 30 seconds twice daily over a three-week experimental gingivitis period. Clinical outcomes (plaque index, gingival index, staining index) and patient-reported freshness/bad-breath ratings will be collected at baseline and on days 7, 14, and 21. The study plans to enroll 44 participants (11 per group) to detect modest differences between groups with 80% power.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are healthy non-smokers aged 18–50 with at least 24 teeth and no periodontal pockets >3 mm who are willing to refrain from mechanical oral hygiene for three weeks and attend scheduled clinic visits.

Not a fit: Patients who smoke, are medically compromised or pregnant, have active caries, significant restorations or orthodontic retainers, allergies to green tea or essential oils, or existing periodontal disease are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the green tea mouthwash could offer a natural, low-cost option to help reduce plaque and gum inflammation similar to commercial essential-oil rinses.

How similar studies have performed: Laboratory studies and small clinical trials have suggested green tea extracts can reduce plaque and gingival inflammation, while essential-oil mouthwashes like Listerine have established efficacy, but direct head-to-head comparisons with pure green tea are limited.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:

* Non-smokers
* Systemically healthy
* At least 24 teeth in the functional dentition, excluding third molars
* Clinical diagnosis of periodontal health (no periodontal pockets \> 3 mm, bleeding on probing percentage \< 10%, and no attachment loss).

Exclusion criteria:

* Smokers.
* Medically compromised patients.
* Pregnant woman.
* Allergies to green tea or EO.
* Any condition that might affect the periodontal tissues.
* Patients with any carious lesions (initial or active).
* Patients who have overhang restorations, poorly designed crowns or bridges, and ortho retainers.
* Use of systemic antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications within 3 months prior to enrolment.

Where this trial is running

Irbid, Irbid Governorate

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Dental PlaquePatient Reported OutcomeGingival Inflammation and BleedingGingival InflammationGingival BleedingGingivitisGreen teaGingival inflammation
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.