MOUTHRINSES CONTAINING TRICLOSAN REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF RECURRENT APHTHOUS ULCERS (RAU)

Triclosan, an antibacterial agent introduced in toothpastes and mouthr inses, has recently been shown to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. The aim of the present double-blind cross-over study was to examine the effect of triclosan on the incidence of reccurent aphth ous ulceration (RAU) when administered in mouthrinses. The study inclu ded 30 patients with a history of multiple recurrent aphthous ulcers. Three different triclosan-containing mouthrinses, differing only in th eir solubilizing agents were used and compared with a control rinse. T he number of new ulcers, ulcer-free days and the severity of pain were recorded. The results showed that the patients experienced a signific ant decrease in the number of oral ulcers during the experimental peri od when the mouthrinses contained triclosan. It may thus be concluded that triclosan has the potential to reduce the number of aphthous ulce rs presumably due to its antiinflammatory properties.