Summary: This study sought to better understand the role of an essential oil (EO)–containing mouthrinse in reducing plaque and gingivitis in patients who brush and floss regularly.
Authors: N. Sharma, C.H. Charles, M.C. Lynch, J. Qaqish, J.A. McGuire, J.G. Galustians, L.D. Kumar
Source: JADA, April 2004
In this study, the authors randomly assigned patients with gingivitis to 1 of 3 treatment groups: brushing and rinsing with a control mouthrinse (BC); brushing, flossing, and rinsing with a control mouthrinse (BFC); or brushing, flossing, and rinsing with an EO-containing mouthrinse (BFEO). Patients received a dental prophylaxis at baseline, and the authors followed them for 6 months.
Results
Of 246 subjects enrolled in the study, 237 subjects were evaluable at the study’s conclusion. After 6 months, the subjects using the BFEO regimen had statistically and clinically significant lower mean modified gingival index (MGI) scores and plaque index (PI) scores than did subjects in the BC group (29.9 percent and 56.3 percent, respectively; P < .001). Subjects in the BFC group had statistically significantly lower mean MGI and PI scores than did subjects in the BC group (11.2 percent and 9.3 percent, respectively; P < .001). Subjects in the BFEO group exhibited statistically and clinically significantly lower mean scores for MGI and PI than did subjects in the BFC group (21 percent and 51.9 percent, respectively; P < .001).
Read the full study
https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(14)61237-X/fulltext
