Clinical effects of a new mouthrinse containing chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride and zinc-lactate on oral halitosis. A dual-center, double-blind placebo-controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this double-blind, parallel study was to test the clinical efficacy of a newly developed mouthrinse in the treatment of oral halitosis in patients without periodontitis.


METHODS
Forty volunteers, recruited in two centers, participated in this study. Patients were selected on the basis of (1) halitosis of oral origin, (2) full-mouth organoleptic score>1, using an arbitrary 0-5 scale, (3) level of volatile sulfur compounds (VSC)>170 parts per billion (ppb) and (4) Winkel tongue coating index (WTCI)>4 (0-12). Intervention included gargling with a mouthrinse containing chlorhexidine (0.05%), cetylpyridinium chloride (0.05%) and zinc-lactate (0.14%) or with a placebo mouthrinse without active ingredients. At days 0 and 14 clinical variables were assessed in order of performance: (1) organoleptic assessments, (2) levels of VSC, and (3) WTCI.


RESULTS
Treatment with the active mouthrinse resulted in a significant mean reduction in the organoleptic score from 2.8 to 1.5 (p<0.005). In the placebo group, no significant reduction in the mean organoleptic score occurred. Consequently, this resulted, after 2 weeks, in a greater change of the organoleptic scores in the test group in comparison to the placebo group (p<0.005). The mean VSC scores were reduced from 292 to 172 ppb in the test group (p<0.005), whereas no reduction was observed in the placebo group. At the 2-week examination, the mean change of the VSC scores in the test group was significantly greater than the mean change in the placebo group (p<0.005). Neither in the test nor in the placebo group a significant reduction in tongue coating was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, the tested mouthrinse is effective in the treatment of oral halitosis.
Winkel
E G
EG
Clinic for Periodontology Amsterdam, de Boelelaan 589, 1082 RM Amsterdam, The Netherlands. edwinwinkel@kliniekvoorparodontologie.com
Roldán
S
S
Van Winkelhoff
A J
AJ
Herrera
D
D
Sanz
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002594:Cetylpyridinium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006209:Halitosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D014059:Tongue / Q000473:pathology; D014075:Tooth Discoloration / Q000139:chemically induced; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D009067:Mouthwashes; D010919:Placebos; D013457:Sulfur Compounds; D019344:Lactic Acid; D002594:Cetylpyridinium; D015032:Zinc; D002710:Chlorhexidine