EFFECT OF CHEWING FENNEL AND CARDAMOM SEEDS ON DENTAL PLAQUE AND SALIVARY pH – A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Objectives: To know the effects of chewing the fennel and cardamom seeds on plaque and salivary pH. Materials and Methods: 50 subjects (aged 18-60 years) attending V.S dental College and Hospital who gave consent to participate were recruited for this clinical study. Subjects were randomized in to two groups for chewing fennel and cardamom seeds. Salivary pH and plaque PH at baseline and immediately after chewing seeds for 5 minutes and after 10 min was measured using calibrated glass combination electrode and analysed by ANOVA. Results: The mean salivary PH scores at baseline, immediately and 10 minutes after chewing fennel seeds was 7.1, 7,3 and 7.5 (p value 0.001). The mean salivary PH scores at baseline, immediately and 10 minutes after chewing cardamom seeds was 7.4 , 7.6 , 7.76 (p<0.05). The mean plaque pH scores at baseline, immediately and 10 min after chewing fennel seeds was 7.4, 7.55, 7.53 (p value 0.001). The mean plaque pH scores at baseline, immediately and at 10 min after chewing cardamom seeds was 7.73, 7.71, 7.83 which was not significant. Conclusion: Chewing both fennel seeds and cardamom seeds are equally effective in increasing salivary and plaque pH. Both the seeds can be used to lubricate and moisten the mouth, while at the same time providing caries protection to highly susceptible individuals.