Effects of Propolis Chewing Gum on Dental Plaque Accumulation and Gingivitis: A Randomized Placebo‐Controlled Clinical Trial

INTRODUCTION: Propolis has antimicrobial properties and may benefit oral health. However, its effectiveness in chewing gum form is not well established. This study aimed to evaluate whether propolis-containing gum offers additional benefits for plaque reduction and gingivitis prevention in routine oral care. METHODS: In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 40 patients with gingivitis were assigned to chew either propolis-containing gum or placebo gum for 10 min, five times daily, over 3 weeks. Plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) scores were recorded at baseline and Weeks 1, 2 and 3. Statistical analysis was performed using Shapiro-Wilk, Mann-Whitney U, Bonferroni, Friedman and Dunn tests. RESULTS: Both groups showed a significant reduction in PI and GI scores from baseline over the 3-week period (p < 0.05). In the propolis group, mean PI decreased from 1.08 ± 0.42 at baseline to 0.33 ± 0.20 at week 3, while in the placebo group it decreased from 1.25 ± 0.39 to 0.35 ± 0.19. Similarly, mean GI decreased from 1.31 ± 0.18 to 0.65 ± 0.35 in the propolis group and from 1.29 ± 0.26 to 0.62 ± 0.22 in the placebo group. However, intergroup comparisons revealed no significant difference between the propolis and placebo groups in terms of plaque and gingival index improvements. CONCLUSION: Chewing gum may support oral hygiene by reducing plaque mechanically, aiding in gingivitis prevention. However, in this study, the addition of propolis to chewing gum did not result in greater improvements than placebo. Alternative delivery methods may be required to realize the therapeutic potential of propolis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Identifier: NCT06685419; ClinicalTrials.gov.