Evaluation of Dental Powder Made From Selected Local Ingredients for Toothache Alleviation in Households in Port Harcourt Metropolis in Rivers State, Nigeria

Résumé

Oral hygiene is fundamental to overall health and wellbeing, yet toothache remains a common oral health problem globally, particularly in regions with limited access to dental care such as Rivers State, Nigeria. Conventional remedies such as pain relievers provide only temporary relief and carry side effects, while most commercial dental powders target hygiene rather than pain management. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a natural dental powder formulated from locally available ingredients – clove, salt, bitter kola, African pepper, turmeric, and scent leaves – compared with two commercial powders for toothache management in households in Port Harcourt Metropolis. Adopting a Research and Development (R&D) design, the study involved 40 adult participants aged 25–50 years experiencing toothaches, selected from three health institutions in Port Harcourt. Chemical analysis assessed the bioactive composition of the natural powder, while oral health parameters – including Plaque Index (PI), Gingival Index (GI), Bleeding on Probing (BOP), stain removal, sensitivity reduction, tooth whitening, microbial load, and salivary pH – were measured over six weeks. Findings revealed that the natural dental powder contained significant concentrations of eugenol, curcumin, piperine, tannins, flavonoids, and other bioactive compounds absent in the commercial samples. It achieved superior outcomes, including 52% plaque reduction, 50% gingival improvement, 67% reduction in bleeding on probing, 71% bacterial load reduction, and notable improvements in stain removal, sensitivity, and acid neutralisation. These results demonstrate that locally formulated dental powder offers a safe, affordable, and effective alternative for managing toothache and promoting oral health in low-resource settings. The study highlights the potential of indigenous ingredients in developing sustainable, culturally relevant dental care solutions.