Perceived and measurable performance of daily brushing and rinsing with an essential oil mouthrinse

Abstract

Aims: To determine whether the oral health benefits of recommending twice daily brushing and rinsing with an essential oil mouthrinse (EOM) are perceived and measurable by dentists and also perceived by their patients at a 3-month recall visit.

Methods: This is a monadic, open label, uncontrolled study involving 766 generally healthy Italian subjects aged 19-66 years, with mild to moderate levels of gingivitis, no pockets of more than 4 mm, and at least 20 scorable teeth. Eight dentists scored subjects for plaque and gingivitis at baseline and at 90 days using simplified 4-point plaque and gingivitis indices. All subjects brushed twice daily, immediately followed by rinsing for 30 sec with 20 ml of an essential oil mouthrinse (Listerine(®)).

Results: 735 subjects completed the study (95.9%). Average score reductions were 51.9% and 45.7% for plaque and gingivitis, respectively. About 62% and 70% were judged by the dentists as improved for plaque control and gingival health. 85% of subjects judged the EOM as efficacious.

Conclusion: The oral health benefits of brushing and rinsing twice daily with an essential oil mouthrinse are perceived by patients and professionals alike and measurable by dentists at a 3-month recall visit.

Keywords: essential oils; gingivitis; mouthrinses; oral hygiene.

Figure 1

Plaque index at baseline and after 90 days of a twice/day use of an EOM as adjunct to brushing.

Figure 2

Gingival index at baseline and after 90 days of a twice/day use of an EOM as adjunct to brushing.

Figure 3

Compliance of patients enrolled and which completed the study in terms of respect of the protocol suggested. (Yes: compliance present; No: compliance absent; Not recorded: data not recorded).