title: A clinical assessment of the effectiveness of mouthwashes in comparison to toothbrushing in children.
abstract: The study compared the efficacy of unsupervised tooth-brushing done once a day before breakfast (phase 1), with twice daily mouthrinsing with the three different commercially available mouthwashes containing 0.2% sodium fluoride (phase 2), a combination of 0.03% triclosan and 0.05% sodium fluoride (phase 3), and 0.2% chlorhexidine (phase 4) in 20 children aged 13-14 year, in reducing dental plaque formation. The results showed that there was a statistically significant difference in plaque reduction between phases 1 & 2; 1 & 3; 2 & 4 and 3 & 4. The mandibular arch harboured more plaque than the maxillary arch in phase 1 (p<0.05). Irrespective of the mouthwash used, the lingual/palatal surfaces had less plaque than the facial surfaces (p<0.05). The mean cumulative plaque scores of the mandibular lingual surfaces was more in comparison to the maxillary palatal surfaces in phases 1, 2 and 3 (p<0.05). It was therefore, concluded that 0.2% chlorhexidine was comparable to tooth brushing done once a day, before breakfast.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics & Preventive Dentistry Govt. Dental College & Hospital, Patiala.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pathak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014099:Toothbrushing; D014260:Triclosan / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D009067:Mouthwashes; D014260:Triclosan; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; D002710:Chlorhexidine