Chemotherapeutic inhibition of supragingival dental plaque and gingivitis development

A 6-month double-blind, controlled clinical study was conducted on 107 healthy adult subjects to determine the efficacy of a mouthrinse used as a supplement to regular oral hygiene measures on supragingival dental plaque and gingivitis. 115 healthy adult patients were recruited for the study. Following screening examinations for minimal entry levels of existing gingivitis and plaque in patients with a minimum of 20 sound natural teeth, extrinsic tooth stain, gingivitis and plaque index scores were recorded. Soft tissues were evaluated. All subjects then received a complete dental prophylaxis, removing plaque, calculus and extrinsic stain. Utilizing their normal oral hygiene, subjects began a regimen of rinsing with 20 ml of the randomly assigned rinse, twice daily for 30 s for 6 months. 7 days after prophylaxis, gingivitis was again scored (baseline 2). Soft tissue, gingivitis, plaque area and extrinsic stain were evaluated again at 3 and 6 months. Results demonstrated that after 6 months, listerine produced a 34% inhibition of both plaque and of gingivitis compared to a hydroalcohol control (p less than 0.001).