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Utah's Foremost Platform for Undergraduate Research Presentation
2022 Abstracts

Aloe Vera’s Holistic Healing for Gingivitis Patients

Presenters: Ansley Tueller ; Ansley Marx
Authors: Ansley Marx, Abby Woods
Faculty Advisor: Brenda Armstrong
Institution: Dixie State University

Patients with poor oral home care come into the dental office concerned with bleeding and inflamed gums but have concerns with traditional adjuncts to improve their condition. The purpose of this literature review is to understand the effects of Aloe vera, a holistic approach, as compared to traditional adjuncts that are recommended in a dental office. A literature search was conducted to determine how Aloe vera impacts the oral cavity when gingivitis is present. PubMed was the database that was utilized with the following terms “Aloe vera”, “gingival inflammation”, “gingivitis”, “Aloe mouth rinse”, “Aloe toothpaste”, “Aloe dentifrice”, and “gum disease”. This search consisted of 7 studies, the first half centered around Aloe toothpaste while the second half centered on Aloe mouth rinse. Each article included randomized controlled trials as well as cross-over designs. Indices consisted of Plaque, Gingival, and Gingival Bleeding Indexes in all studies. Statistical significance testing was used to describe the findings of the results of each study. Results displayed that Aloe vera dentifrices such as mouthwash and toothpaste were effective in reducing the amount of inflammation and bleeding, but in comparison to traditional adjuncts, there was no significant difference. Results also indicated little to no side effects in adults and even children.It is concluded that Aloe vera could be an acceptable replacement for those looking for a holistic alternative, but it does not alone replace the performance of traditional adjuncts. In office implementation of this alternative pursuit for patient care is not considered standard of care when meeting gingivitis patient needs.