Clinical effects of commercially available mouthrinses on the development of plaque, gingivitis and enamel surface free energy

In this study the clinical effects of 6 commercially available mouthrinses on the development of plaque and gingivitis and on the tooth surface free energy were evaluated in vivo. The following rinses were used: Hibident^®(containing 0·2% chlorhexidine), Prodent^®(containing 0·05% sodium fluoride) Meridol^®(containing 125 ppm aminefluoride, 125 ppm stannous fluoride), Merocet^®(containing 0·05% cetylpyridinium chloride), Veadent^®(containing 0·03% sanguinarine) and Listerine^®(containing several phenolic compounds). Sixty test persons were selected and requested to employ the same, non-fluoridated toothpaste over 14 days. At days 0 and 14, the plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), planimetric plaque index (PP) and the tooth surface free energy were assessed. After this preparatory phase, all oral hygiene was stopped for 6 days and only a rinse twice a day (30 s, 10 ml was used). After this period, the above parameters were measured again. In addition, the microbial composition of the plaque was determined at the beginning (day 0) and the end of the study (day 20). Hibident^®(incorporated in this study as a positive control) demonstrated the lowest PI after 6 days use, whereas Meridol^®demonstrated the lowest GI. PI and GI scores were highest after the use of Prodent^®(incorporated as a negative control). None of the products were able to alter the tooth surface free energy markedly or to cause great shifts in microbial composition of the plaque. Since in this study, 6 products were evaluated in an identical way, the results provide a rigorous basis for comparing their clinical efficacies.