Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Feb;18(2):198-202.
doi: 10.5005/jp-journals-10005-3053. Epub 2025 Mar 20.

Comparative Assessment of Efficacy of Cranberry Extract Mouthwash and Fluoride Mouthwash on Streptococcus mutans Count as an Adjunct to Conventional Caries Management among 6-12-year-old Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Arushi Agrawal  1 , Dimple Padawe  1 , Vilas Takate  1 , Sanath Kharat  1 , Sanpreet S Sachdev  2
Affiliations

Comparative Assessment of Efficacy of Cranberry Extract Mouthwash and Fluoride Mouthwash on Streptococcus mutans Count as an Adjunct to Conventional Caries Management among 6-12-year-old Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Arushi Agrawal et al. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2025 Feb.

Abstract

Background: Dental caries remains a prevalent oral health concern among children worldwide, necessitating effective preventive measures. This study evaluates the efficacy of cranberry extract mouthwash and fluoride mouthwashes in reducing Streptococcus mutans counts among children aged 6-12 years with moderate to severe dental caries.

Materials and methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving children with three or more carious lesions [Caries Assessment Spectrum and Treatment (CAST) types 3-9]. Participants were assigned to receive either cranberry extract mouthwash or fluoride mouthwash, administered weekly for 6 months. S. mutans colony-forming units (CFUs) were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months to measure bacterial load reduction.

Results: Both cranberry extract mouthwash and fluoride mouthwashes demonstrated statistically significant reductions in S. mutans CFUs at 3 months (p < 0.01) and 6 months (p < 0.01) compared to baseline. No significant difference was observed between the two mouthwashes, suggesting comparable efficacy in bacterial count reduction.

Conclusion: This study supports the use of cranberry extract mouthwash as a natural alternative to fluoride mouthwash in managing dental caries among children. Both interventions effectively reduced S. mutans counts, highlighting their potential as adjuncts to conventional caries management strategies.

How to cite this article: Agrawal A, Padawe D, Takate V, et al. Comparative Assessment of Efficacy of Cranberry Extract Mouthwash and Fluoride Mouthwash on Streptococcus mutans Count as an Adjunct to Conventional Caries Management among 6-12-year-old Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2025;18(2):198-202.

Keywords: Dental caries; Dental plaque; Mouthwash; Preventive dentistry.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: NoneConflict of interest: None

Figures

Figs 1A to D
Figs 1A to D
(A) Mouthwashes used in the present study; (B) Child using chlorhexidine mouthwash; (C) Child using cranberry extract mouthwash; (D) Obtaining swab for microbial testing
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Bar chart indicating intergroup comparison of S. mutans colony counts (group I—cranberry extract mouthwash, group II—fluoride mouthwash)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Adeghe EP. Integrating pediatric oral health into primary care: a public health strategy to combat oral diseases in children across the United States. Int J Multidiscip Res Updates. 2024;7(1):27–36.
    1. Childers NK. Early Childhood Caries: IAPD Bangkok Declaration. Chicago, IL. 2019:176–178. pp. - PubMed
    1. Alejandra BM, Daniel OM. Virulence factors of Streptococcus mutans related to dental caries. Staphylococcus Streptococcus. 2020;11(9)
    1. Baik A, Alamoudi N, El-Housseiny A. Fluoride varnishes for preventing occlusal dental caries: a review. Dent J. 2021;9(6):64. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Goldberg M. Fluoride: double-edged sword implicated in caries prevention and in fluorosis. J Cell Dev Biol. 2018;1(1):10–22.

LinkOut - more resources