Garlic has been used for thousands of years as a natural remedy, and many cultures have relied on it to fight infections long before modern medicine existed.
Today, scientists are still discovering new benefits of this powerful plant. A new study from the University of Sharjah offers surprising evidence that garlic extract may work just as well as one of the most common chemical disinfectants used in dental care.
This finding has attracted worldwide attention because it suggests that a simple natural ingredient may compete with a widely trusted medical product.
The study, published in the Journal of Herbal Medicine, compared garlic extract to chlorhexidine, a chemical mouthwash often called the gold standard in dentistry. Chlorhexidine is used to kill harmful bacteria in the mouth and prevent infections.
Dentists frequently recommend it for gum disease, after oral surgeries, and for people who have trouble controlling plaque. However, chlorhexidine also has several downsides. Many people experience tooth staining, changes in taste, and irritation.
There are also long-term concerns about antimicrobial resistance, which means germs may gradually stop responding to the chemical.
Garlic extract, by contrast, is natural and has been known for its strong antibacterial and antifungal properties. The compound allicin, which forms when garlic is crushed, is responsible for many of its germ-fighting effects. Although garlic is usually used in cooking, scientists have been exploring its potential as a safe and affordable medical ingredient.
To understand whether garlic could replace or support chlorhexidine, researchers conducted a systematic review. This means they carefully searched and analyzed all available clinical studies that tested garlic extract in real-life dental settings.
The team followed strict scientific guidelines known as PRISMA to make sure the review was thorough and reliable. Out of 389 published papers plus 13 additional papers found through manual checking, only five studies met the high standards needed for the review. These studies included clinical trials and experiments on real patients.
Across these studies, garlic extract performed surprisingly well. When used in higher concentrations, garlic mouthwash killed bacteria as effectively as chlorhexidine. Some studies showed that chlorhexidine helped maintain higher mouth pH levels, which can reduce tooth decay, while other studies found that garlic performed better at certain doses.
One drawback was that garlic mouthwash caused more discomfort for some users. People reported burning sensations or disliked the strong smell. Even so, garlic often provided longer-lasting antimicrobial effects, which may be helpful in long-term oral care.
Garlic’s side effects were generally milder than those of chlorhexidine, although the odor could discourage some patients from using it regularly.
Still, the review confirmed that garlic significantly reduced harmful bacteria in the mouth. This shows that garlic extract may be a realistic alternative for people who prefer herbal remedies or cannot tolerate synthetic chemicals.
Garlic has a long global history as a healing plant, used since ancient times to treat infections and improve health. Today, it is consumed worldwide, with global usage reaching nearly 30 million metric tons in 2024.
China produces and uses most of the world’s garlic. The market for garlic extract is also growing, valued at more than 15 billion dollars because of its popularity in supplements, natural medicines, and cosmetic products.
Many people are becoming more interested in herbal mouthwash options. Unlike chlorhexidine, which usually requires a prescription, garlic extract products can be bought over the counter. Garlic has also been studied for treating gum infections, denture-related issues, and even deeper dental problems such as disinfection of dental root canals.
However, most of these studies were done in laboratories rather than on real patients. This means scientists still need more clinical trials before garlic extract can confidently be recommended in dental care.
After reviewing all available research, the authors concluded that garlic extract appears to have strong antimicrobial activity and could be a helpful alternative in certain situations.
However, because only a few high-quality clinical studies exist, more research is needed. Larger studies with more people and longer follow‑up times are necessary to understand how effective garlic mouthwash really is and whether it can stand beside chlorhexidine in everyday dental care.
In summary, this study adds meaningful evidence to a growing body of research showing that natural ingredients like garlic may offer real medical benefits. Garlic extract mouthwash shows strong promise, with germ-fighting abilities similar to chemical products and fewer long-term risks.
The findings suggest that herbal alternatives could play an important role in future oral health care. Still, more reliable studies are needed before garlic can fully replace chlorhexidine. For now, garlic extract remains an exciting possibility, but not yet a complete solution.
If you care about tooth health, please read studies about an important causes of tooth decay and gum disease, and common tooth disease that may increase risks of dementia.
For more health information, please see recent studies about mouthwash that may increase your tooth damage, and results showing this diet could help treat gum disease.
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