ANTIMICROBIAL MOUTHRINSES - OVERVIEW AND UPDATE

The Seal of Acceptance of the American Dental Association's Council on Dental Therapeutics has been awarded to Listerine and chlorhexidine g luconate (Peridex). The mechanism of action of Listerine involves bact erial cell wall destruction, bacterial enzymatic inhibition, and extra ction of bacterial lipopolysaccharides. Chlorhexidine has the property of substantivity, i.e. the ability to bind to hard and soft tissue wi th slow release. Antibacterial mouthrinses/dentifrices containing tric losan hold promise for the reduction of plaque and gingivitis but are not yet available in the United States. The quaternary ammonium compou nds and sanguinarine compounds (Viadent) have some merit, but studies of their efficacy in plaque and gingivitis reduction are mixed. New pr oducts containing various fluorides and oxygenating agents may have Po tential for the future as antiplaque and antigingivitis agents.