title: The effectiveness of three different strengths of chlorhexidine mouthrinse.
abstract: Dental caries in dentate elderly patients may be controlled with chlorhexidine. The purpose of this study is to establish the effectiveness of two low-concentration chlorhexidine mouthrinses in reducing the microbial counts of cariogenic bacteria in a sample of institutionalized elders. Stimulated saliva samples from all subjects before treatment produced counts greater than or equal to 105 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL of lactobacilli and/or mutans streptococci. Treatment consisted of daily rinsing with 4.0 mL of mouthrinse before bed for 14 days. Bacterial counts were re-assessed two weeks after commencing treatment. The mean reduction in mutans streptococci counts in subjects receiving the regular-strength chlorhexidine mouthrinse (Group B) was significantly greater than for subjects using either of the low-concentration rinses (Groups A and C). These findings failed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the lower-concentration mouthrinses (Groups A & C).
authors.affiliation: Department of clinical dental sciences, University of British Columbia.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Guest
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000379:methods; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000187:drug effects*; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009735:Nursing Homes; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D009067:Mouthwashes; D002710:Chlorhexidine