Effects of an Antiseptic Mouthwash on Odorigenic Microbes in the Human Gingival Crevice

Abstract

Odorigenic gram-negative anaerobes in human gingival crevices were significantly decreased for up to 120 minutes after rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash. This observation parallels clinical measurements of the antiseptic effect on oral malodor and suggests that its odor-decreasing properties are related to its antimicrobial action in the mouth.

Effect of Rinsing With an Essential Oil–Containing Mouthrinse on Subgingival Periodontopathogens

“…Although previous studies 16‐21,26 showed the essential oil–containing mouthrinse to have significant in vivo bactericidal activity against organisms in supragingival plaque or plaque at the gingival crevice, this study demonstrated that rinsing also can effect changes in the subgingival flora within periodontal pockets. Because rinsing would not be expected to carry the mouthrinse subgingivally to any appreciable extent, the reductions in subgingival bacteria most likely were mediated primarily through an effect of the mouthrinse on the contiguous supragingival plaque.…”

“…In one study 16 using a vital stain method, the mouthrinse killed 78.7% of plaque bacteria compared to 27.9% killed by the control ( P <0.001), confirming the bactericidal activity of the formulation in vivo and indicating its ability to penetrate into the plaque matrix rapidly. Other studies involving plaque sampling demonstrated significant reductions of odorigenic bacteria contained within the gingival crevice 17‐19 as well as significant reductions in interproximal plaque bacteria 20 . A study looking at specific bacteria showed that the essential oil mouthrinse produced significant ( P <0.001) respective 69.9% and 75.4% reductions of recoverable streptococci and Streptococcus mutans in plaque 21 .…”

In vivo antimicrobial effectiveness of an essential oil‐containing mouth rinse 12 h after a single use and 14 days' use

“…However, when the results of this study are compared with results on the effects of the essential oil mouth rinse on malodor reported in other studies (Pianotti & Pitts 1978, Pitts et al 1983) the inference of a clinical effect appears to be justified. Significant reductions were seen 12 h after just a single rinse, with a trend to higher reductions after 14 days' use.…”

“…In vitro studies using a kill kinetic assay have demonstrated that the essential oil mouth rinse kills virtually all of a wide spectrum of oral Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, opportunistic bacteria, and yeast within a 30 s exposure, both in the presence and absence of exogenous protein (Ross et al 1989). These studies have shown significant killing of bacteria in dental plaque (Pianotti & Pitts 1978, Fine et al 2000a, Pan et al 2000, in saliva (Jenkins et al 1994, DePaola et al 1996, and on the dorsum of the tongue (Pitts et al 1981(Pitts et al , 1983. In addition, clinical studies have confirmed that this same bactericidal activity occurs in situ.…”

The effect of mouthrinses against oral microorganisms

“…Additionally, the antimicrobial activity of the essential oil mouthrinses has been shown in saliva, 13 in the gingival crevice, and on the dor-sal surface of the tongue. 34,35 Plaque reduction has ranged from 20% to 34%, and gingivitis reduction, from 28% to 34% when essential oils were used twice daily following tooth brushing. 17,18 About 80 to 90% of the oral malodor originates locally in the mouth, and the bacterial overgrowth is the major etiological factor.…”