Purpose: Various candida species have been associated with poor oral hygiene and active carious lesions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of aloe vera compared to triclosan toothpaste against total candida, C. albicans, C. tropicalis, Candida krusei, and plaque/gingivitis among intellectually disabled adolescents over 30 days.
Methods: A double-blind prospective randomized trial was conducted among 40 intellectually disabled adolescents randomly allocated into aloe vera/triclosan groups. The gingival (Löe and Silness index), plaque (Silness and Löe index), and candidal carriage counts were assessed at baseline and follow-up. Caregivers brushed the participant's teeth twice a day using a modified bass method and refrained from any other oral hygiene practices for at least two hours prior to assessment.
Results: Aloe vera-contaiing toothpaste caused significant reductions in gingival inflammation and plaque index scores compared to the triclosan group at the end of 30 days. Also, total candidal counts and C. albicans counts were significantly lower in the aloe vera group compared to triclosan at the end of the 30-day follow-up (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Aloe vera-containing toothpaste was effective in reducing plaque, gingivitis, and overall candidal counts compared to triclosan. Moreover, individuals treated with aloe vera experienced improved oral health status without any negative side effects.