Comparative antiplaque and antigingivitis efficacy of a multipurpose essential oil-containing mouthrinse and a cetylpyridinium chloride-containing mouthrinse: A 6-month randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE

This 6-month, examiner-blind, single-center, randomized, parallel group clinical trial compared the antiplaque and antigingivitis effects of an essential oil-containing mouthrinse with zinc chloride and sodium fluoride (EO) to a 0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride-containing mouthrinse (CPC) also with fluoride.

METHOD AND MATERIALS: Four hundred and eight gingivitis subjects were monitored for the primary outcomes of modified Gingival Index (MGI) and Plaque Index (PI) at baseline and 3 and 6 months. Subjects were randomly assigned to 6-month twice a day unsupervised use of EO, CPC, or negative control rinse in conjunction with normal brushing and flossing.

RESULTS

EO was always better than CPC at 3 and 6 months considering all parameters. All benefits allowed by EO increased from 3 to 6 months. CPC was better than the negative control at 3 and 6 months with respect to whole mouth plaque, and the proportion of more severe sites (baseline scores ≥ 3) in PI and MGI. At 6 months, CPC did not differ from negative control in relation to whole mouth MGI reduction, proximal MGI reduction, and percentages of sites improved over baseline in PI and MGI.

CONCLUSION

This new EO mouthrinse provided superior clinical benefits to CPC and demonstrated increasing plaque and gingivitis reductions over 6 months. Our findings support the regular long-term use of the EO mouthrinse and selection over a 0.05% CPC rinse for better efficacy.