EFFICACY OF MOUTHRINSES IN INHIBITING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPRAGINGIVAL PLAQUE OVER A 4-DAY PERIOD OF NO ORAL HYGIENE

THIS STUDY WAS A FIRST STAGE evaluation of the plaque inhibitory prope rties of an experimental cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC)/essential oil mouthrinse. The study was a formulation, not ingredient, evaluation an d comparisons were made with established mouthrinse products. The 5 ri nses tested were: the experimental formulation; a triclosan/copolymer prebrushing mouthrinse; two negative control rinses, which differed on ly in color; and as a positive control, a 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthrins e. The study used a 5 cell, 4-day plaque regrowth, double-blind crosso ver design in which 15 subjects participated. Allocation of mouthrinse sequences was accomplished using 3 replicates of a 5 X 5 Latin square , incorporating balance for carryover. On Day 1, subjects received a s caling and polishing to reduce plaque, ceased toothcleaning, and comme nced rinsing twice daily, under supervision, with the randomly assigne d rinse. Rinsing time for the experimental and one negative control ri nse was 30 seconds and for the other rinses was 60 seconds. On Day 5, plaque was scored by both index and area. Differences in plaque regrow th between the rinse groups were highly significant. The order of effi cacy from the most effective was: chlorhexidine rinse (positive contro l); experimental CPC/essential oil rinse; triclosan/copolymer rinse; a nd the negative control rinses. From the calculated confidence interva ls each rinse differed significantly from each other rinse, except for the two negative control rinses which were comparable to each other. Proportionately, the CPC/essential oil rinse was positioned 30 to 50% between the triclosan/copolymer rinse and the chlorhexidine (positive control). These findings suggest that the CPC/phenolic rinse would see m worthy of further evaluation for adjunctive benefits to oral hygiene .