title: Inhibition of orally produced volatile sulfur compounds by zinc, chlorhexidine or cetylpyridinium chloride--effect of concentration.
abstract: Zinc ions, chlorhexidine (CHX) and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) are all known to inhibit production of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs). The objective was to examine the anti-VSC dose-response effects of each of the above agents. Oral malodor was induced in 13 test subjects using the cysteine challenge method. The oral VSC response to rinses with 6 mm l-cysteine (pH 7.2) before and 1, 2 and 3 h after rinsing with zinc ions (Zn2+: 0.1, 0.3 and 1.0%), CHX and CPC (0.025 and 0.2%) was measured. Mouth air was analysed for VSC by gas chromatography (GC) according to current methodology. Zinc had a marked dose- and time-dependent anti-VSC effect. Zinc at 1% concentration had a somewhat unpleasant taste, whereas the lowest concentration was found acceptable. Chlorhexidine maintained a moderate anti-VSC effect over time. At 3 h, 0.2% CHX was the most effective agent but tasted relatively unpleasant. Cetylpyridinium at a concentration of 0.2% was only marginally more effective than 0.025% CHX over the 3 h, while 0.025% CPC had no better anti-VSC effect than water at both 2 h and 3 h. It was concluded that the three test agents demonstrated different anti-VSC kinetics. Although Zn had the best anti-VSC effect at 1 h, 0.2% CHX was at least as effective as 1% Zn at 3 h, most likely as a result of its unique substantivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. alixr@odont.uio.no
authors.forename: Alix
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Grazyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jonski
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rölla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002594:Cetylpyridinium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D003545:Cysteine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006209:Halitosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D009067:Mouthwashes; D013457:Sulfur Compounds; D002594:Cetylpyridinium; D015032:Zinc; D003545:Cysteine; D002710:Chlorhexidine