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Title |
Tea Tree Oil Is an Effective Alternative to the Allopathic Treatment of Oral Candidiasis |
Clinical Question |
For patients with oral candidiasis, are the antifungal properties of tea tree oil equivalent to those of clotrimazole? |
Clinical Bottom Line |
Due to its low toxicity, cost, and ease of application tea tree oil is a viable alternative to toxic antifungals. This is based on a randomized controlled study to determine if tea tree oil could be an effective antifungal in the treatment of symptomatic lesions based on specific outcome parameters such as erythema. |
Best Evidence |
(you may view more info by clicking on the PubMed ID link) |
PubMed ID |
Author / Year |
Patient Group |
Study type
(level of evidence) |
#1) 26870682 | Maghu/2015 | 36 Medically fit adults from 20-60 yrs. of age | Randomized Controlled Trial | Key results | The tea tree oil (TTO - Group I) treated group showed a reduction in erythema (89%), inflammation (85.7%), burning sensation of a visual analog scale (VAS) (100%), and a reduction in hyphae (85.7%). The clotrimazole group (Group II) showed a reduction in erythema, inflammation, VAS, and hyphae of 71%, 80%, 100%, and 100% respectively. The conservative treatment group, which consisted of a cleaning and washing of the prosthesis on a daily basis followed by removal at night, showed a 40% reduction in erythema, 66.67% reduction in inflammation, 50% reduction in the VAS, and 100% reduction in hyphae. Groups I and II had comparative results in relieving symptoms of oral antifungal infections. | |
Evidence Search |
("tea tree oil"[Mesh Terms] OR ("tea"[All Fields] AND "tree"[All Fields] AND "oil"[All Fields]) OR "tea tree oil"[All Fields]) AND ("mouth"[Mesh Terms] OR "mouth"[All Fields] OR "oral"[All Fields]) AND ("mycoses"[Mesh Terms] OR "mycoses"[All Fields] OR ("fungal"[All Fields] AND "infection"[All Fields]) OR "fungal infection"[All Fields]) |
Comments on
The Evidence |
Validity: Groups were similar at the start with all patients (36 participating) being medically fit, between the ages of 20-60 years, and all having fungal infections; they were then randomly divided into the three blinded treatment groups by the clinicians. It was unclear whether or not the clinicians themselves were blinded. Each group was given specific instructions for their particular treatment. The TTO group was on 24 hr. recall to observe for toxic effects, but otherwise recall was performed after 1 week for 3 consecutive weeks for recording of the four parameter indices (erythema, inflammation, hyphae, and the visual analog scale). Sample size was small; there is a need for more extensive testing with a larger group.
Perspective: Even with the currently limited number of studies looking at its oral antifungal properties and the small sample size from this study, tea tree oil seems to be a viable alternative to clotrimazole for any patient based on cost, ease of application, effectiveness, and low (if any) toxicity. |
Applicability |
In a clinical setting the use of tea tree oil may be an effective alternative to traditional medication. Tea tree oil is available to both patient and clinician at a cheaper cost than an antifungal. Toxicity is minimal and the application of tea tree oil is simple, so minimal clinician or patient training is needed. |
Specialty/Discipline |
(Public Health) (Oral Medicine/Pathology/Radiology) (General Dentistry) |
Keywords |
Candidiasis, clotrimazole, conservative management, fungal infection, tea tree oil
|
ID# |
3176 |
Date of submission: |
04/26/2017 |
E-mail |
walkerx@livemail.uthscsa.edu |
Author |
Xavier Walker |
Co-author(s) |
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Co-author(s) e-mail |
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Faculty mentor/Co-author |
Georgiana S. Gross, MPH, RD, LD |
Faculty mentor/Co-author e-mail |
GrossG@uthscsa.edu |
Basic Science Rationale
(Mechanisms that may account for and/or explain the clinical question, i.e. is the answer to the clinical question consistent with basic biological, physical and/or behavioral science principles, laws and research?) |
post a rationale |
None available | |
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Comments and Evidence-Based Updates on the CAT
(FOR PRACTICING DENTISTS', FACULTY, RESIDENTS and/or STUDENTS COMMENTS ON PUBLISHED CATs) |
post a comment |
None available | |
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