analgesic efficacy of aloe vera and green tea mouthwash after periodontal pocket reduction surgery: a randomized split-mouth clinical trial

objectives: the aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of aloe vera and green tea mouthwash for reducing pain after periodontal pocket reduction surgery. methods: this randomized, split-mouth, double-blind, cross-over clinical trial was carried out on 45 patients between 25 and 50 years of age requiring pocket reduction surgery. patients underwent bilateral surgeries in two sessions. after the first surgery, the patients were randomized to receive either mouthwash or placebo for 10 days; then, each group used the other product for the same time period. the parameters assessed following each procedure were the numeric pain rating scale (nprs) and number of painkillers taken by patients to alleviate postoperative pain. also, patients were requested to report side effects, if any, after using the mouthwash. results: the reported postoperative pain score was significantly lower after using the aloe vera and green tea mouthwash compared to the placebo only in the first postoperative day (p=0.002). furthermore, number of analgesic tablets used in the first postoperative day was significantly lower than that in the control group (p=0.007). conclusion: our results indicated that patients experienced significantly less early postoperative pain when they used aloe vera and green tea mouthwash. thus, its application can be recommended to decrease pain after periodontal pocket reduction surgery.