title: [The effects of an essential oil mouthrinse on oral health in the community indwelling elderly].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an essential oil mouthrinse with gingival massage on oral health in community indwelling elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were composed of 61 healthy elderly at a Senior Welfare Center in J city. Thirty subjects in the experimental group were given toothbrushing education ongingival massage toothbrushing with an essential oil mouthrinse for 2 weeks(4 times per day, 3 minutes per session). The 31 subjects in the control group were given toothbrushing education ongingival massage toothbrushing. The effects of the treatment were measured by salivary pH, salivary IgA level, halitosis, oral subjective symptoms, and oral self care behavior scores before, right after and 2 weeks after the experiment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Salivary pH was significantly increased(p=0.018) in the experimental group. Salivary IgA levels were not significantly different between the experimental and control groups; however, IgA levels of the experimental group were significantly increased(p=0.006) after time had passed. Halitosis was significantly decreased(p=0.002) in the experimental group. Oral subjective symptom scores were significantly decreased(p=0.000) and oral self care behavior scores were significantly increased(p=0.000) in the experimental group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regular gingival massage toothbrushing with an essential oil mouthrinse could be an effective oral health nursing intervention for the elderly.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Chonbuk National University, Korea. csh@chonbuk.ac.kr
authors.forename: Senug-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009909:Oral Health; D014099:Toothbrushing
chemical_list: D009067:Mouthwashes; D009822:Oils, Volatile