Carbohydrate Mouth Rinsing Reduces Dental Anxiety in Children at Their First Dental Visit: A Randomized Trial Supported by Salivary Cortisol

Objectives Dental anxiety during the first dental visit can shape children’s long-term attitudes toward oral care. This study evaluated whether a brief carbohydrate mouth-rinsing intervention could reduce situational dental anxiety in children, using subjective assessment supported by a physiological stress marker. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, children aged 7–9 years with no prior dental experience were allocated to a carbohydrate mouth-rinse group or a water control group. Situational dental anxiety was assessed using the Facial Image Scale before and after the rinsing intervention. Salivary cortisol was measured at baseline and following a standardized first-visit dental procedure. Pain perception was assessed post-procedure using the Faces Pain Scale–Revised. Results Children receiving carbohydrate mouth rinse demonstrated a modest but statistically significant reduction in situational dental anxiety compared with controls. Salivary cortisol responses showed a directionally consistent trend toward reduced stress reactivity in the intervention group, although this difference did not reach statistical significance. Pain ratings were low overall and did not differ meaningfully between groups. Conclusions A brief carbohydrate mouth-rinsing intervention was associated with reduced situational dental anxiety during children’s first dental visit, with supportive trends in physiological stress markers. Given its simplicity, safety, and ease of implementation, carbohydrate mouth rinsing may represent a novel non-pharmacological adjunct for anxiety management in pediatric dentistry. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings and explore their durability across repeated visits.