Evidence supporting the use of: Thymol
For the health condition: Gingivitis

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 4

Thymol is a naturally occurring compound found in thyme oil, and it has been widely used in oral hygiene products such as mouthwashes and toothpastes. Its primary action is as an antimicrobial agent, targeting a broad spectrum of oral bacteria implicated in gingivitis. Several clinical studies and systematic reviews have demonstrated that thymol, especially when used in combination with other essential oils (such as eucalyptol, menthol, and methyl salicylate), can significantly reduce dental plaque and gingival inflammation compared to placebo or mechanical oral hygiene alone. The mechanism underlying this benefit is thymol's ability to disrupt bacterial cell membranes, thereby reducing the microbial load that contributes to gingival inflammation. The inclusion of thymol in commercially available mouthwashes, such as Listerine, is supported by randomized controlled trials showing a reduction in gingivitis and plaque scores over both short and long-term use. While most studies investigate combinations of essential oils, thymol is a key active component, and its individual efficacy is supported by in vitro data and animal studies. Authoritative bodies such as the American Dental Association recognize essential oil-containing mouthwashes (which include thymol) as effective adjuncts in gingivitis management. However, the highest quality evidence generally pertains to formulations with multiple active essential oils rather than thymol alone. Overall, the scientific evidence supporting thymol’s use for gingivitis is robust, especially as part of essential oil mouthwash blends, justifying its inclusion in oral care products for this purpose.

More about Thymol
More about Gingivitis

Other ingredients used for Gingivitis

Ajoene
Aloe vera
anthocyanins
basil
Myrobalan
betel
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium longum
bio ecolian (proprietary)
bisabolol
black garlic
black pepper
black walnut
blackberry
Indian frankincense
bromelain
cat's claw
catechins
chamomile
cinnamon
citrus bioflavonoids
citrus sinensis (proprietary)
coating
coconut milk
Coptis chinensis
turmeric
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
flavonols
ginger
goldenseal
gooseberry
gotu kola
grape
Greek mountain tea
onion
green tea
Lactobacillus casei
Lactobacillus gasseri
Lactobacillus lactis
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus reuteri
Lactobacillus salivarius
Lactoferrin
Lactoperoxidase
lauric acid
lemon
licorice root
Microbial enzymes (proprietary)
Monolaurin
Moringa
mustard seed
orange
oregano
oregon grape
parsley
Peppermint
phellodendron amurense
quercetin
raspberry
rutin
sage
schizonepeta
slippery elm bark
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
streptococcus thermophilus
Triphala
vitamin C
vitamin E
Xylitol
Zinc
bentonite
typhonium
Indian bael
ferula assafoetida
commiphora
blackboard tree
Caesalpinia crista
bee pollen
peony
Myrrh
sweet flag
Morinda
Trichosanthes
zanthoxylum
polyphenols
trace minerals
fulvic acid
Menthol oil
aster root
paw paw
White oak
melaleuca alternifolia
enzymes blend (proprietary)
cayenne pepper
geranium
avens
apple cider vinegar
alpha-terpineol
Ardisia
Acacia
Allicin
anamu
Ajuga
Alpha hydroxy acids
American Liverleaf
Asam gelugor
anthocyanidins
Acemannan
ananain
Allium tuberosum
Amor seco
Arani
bee propolis
black seed
babchi
Baphicacanthus cusia
Broussonetia
Blepharis
balsam
Boswellic Acid
bayleaf
Butea monosperma
Barleria
bitter grass
bee hive
banyan
bioflavonoids
back nightshade
Bombax
borassus palm
Borassus aethiopum
bacteria
Blue-Green Alage
Bacillus
benzyl isothiocyanate
borneol
Camellia sinensis
caryophyllene
Calendula
Cinnamomum
Clerodendrum trichotomum
chlorophyllin
coconut oil
carvacrol
cajuput
Centella asiatica
Centipeda
Cistus
corktree
costus
Carthamus
copaiba oil
Celosia
Dianthus
Dichrostachys glomerata
ellagic acid
empresstree
Evodia
elephant\'s head
Euphorbia
eugenol
fucoidan
Ficus religiosa
flavans
frankincense
flavonones
gallic acid
geraniol
genipap
Gnaphalium
Glycolic acid
glyceryl monolaurate
Guava
Gambir
gum
garlic
Gallesia
Glechoma hederacea
Galangal
Helicteres isora
Horsemint
iridoids
iridoid glycosides
isoquinoline alkaloids
Isatis
Indian coraltree
Indian fagonia
Kokilaksha
Kefir
Lactobacillus plantarum
Lesser speargrass
Laggera pterodonta
lysozyme
labrador tea
liverwort
Loranthus
Lysimachia
Mustard
mallow
Metal salt
Matapalo Tree
mangostin
Macaranga indica
Naphthoquinones
Nimbidin
Oligomeric proanthocyanidins
Orris
Onosma bracteatum
Propolis
Phellodendron
Phaeophyceae
pagoda tree
procyanidol
procyanidin
Pepper Bark Tree
Pentacyclic triterpenoids
phlorotannins
Phosphate ascorbate
proanthocyanidins
probiotics
Portulaca
Piper nigrum
Pimpinella
Persimmon
punicalagins
Physalis angulata
Pycnogenol
Plectranthus amboinicus
Quisqualis
Rubus
rosmarinic acid
Rhus coriaria
Spilanthes
Sichuan Lovage
Sophora
Streptococcus oralis
Self-Heal
Salvia
Sensitive Plant
Solanum indicum
Streptococcus salivarius
Slippery Elm
Sagebrush
Stereospermum
Sumac
Sword Bean
Terminalia
Tannins
Tamaricaceae
Thymol
Thaumatococcus daniellii
Tulbaghia
Tea Tree Oil
Tamarind
Thiosulfinate
Violet
Viola
White Tea
Water Pepper
Wulinshen
Winter Begonia
Yerba buena
Yellow-Fruit Nightshade
Zucchini
Zingiberene
Zedoary

Products containing Thymol

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.