Batool Abbas TAREQ, Athraa Ali MAHMOOD, Hashim Mueen HUSSEIN
The Eurasian Journal of Medicine - 2026;58(1):1-7
Background: Gingivitis is common among pregnant women due to hormonal changes, and stress can increase the severity. Chlorhexidine (CHX) is the standard treatment for gingivitis, but its side effects limit its use during pregnancy. Ginger has an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect. The research aims to evaluate ginger mouthwash's impact on gingival health, cortisol, and lactoferrin (LF) levels in pregnant women with stress and gingivitis compared to distilled water and CHX. Methods: The completed research was a parallel 3-arm triple-blind randomized clinical investigation. The study included 45 pregnant women with stress and gingivitis. Results: Significantly reduced in BOP, PI, and GI in all interventions, but ginger and CHX had a greater significant effect compared to placebo. Conclusion: Ginger mouthwash achieved CHX-comparable reductions in BOP, GI, and PI and decreased cortisol and LF concentrations after 1 week from baseline without adverse effects, highlighting a safe, natural alternative during pregnancy.
