Effect of an essential oil-containing antimicrobial mouthrinse on specific plaque bacteria in vivo.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of rinsing with an essential oil-containing mouthrinse on levels of specific supra and subgingival bacteria in subjects with gingivitis.


METHODS
Fifteen subjects meeting entry criteria completed this randomized, controlled, double-blind, crossover study. Subjects were required to have >or=1000 target organisms per millilitre in pooled samples from two subgingival sites. Following sampling of supra and subgingival plaque, subjects began twice-daily rinsing for 14 days with either an essential oil-containing mouthrinse (Cool Mint Listerine Antiseptic) or a negative control. Supra and subgingival plaque was again sampled on day 15, and the procedure repeated after a 1-week washout period with subjects using the alternate rinse.


RESULTS
Compared with the negative control, the essential oil mouthrinse produced significant reductions in supragingival plaque levels of Veillonella sp., Capnocytophaga sp., Fusobacterium nucleatum, and total anaerobes ranging from 52.3 to 88.5% (p<0.001 except for Veillonella, p=0.002); respective reductions in subgingival plaque ranged from 54.1 to 69.1% (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Rinsing with the essential oil mouthrinse can have an impact on the subgingival plaque flora. This study provides additional evidence indicating that reduction in supragingival plaque can reduce levels of subgingival plaque.
Fine
Daniel H
DH
Department of Oral Biology, New Jersey Dental School, University of Dentistry and Medicine of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101, USA. finedh@umdnj.edu
Markowitz
Kenneth
K
Furgang
David
D
Goldsmith
Deborah
D
Charles
Christine H
CH
Lisante
Toni Anne
TA
Lynch
Michael C
MC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002206:Capnocytophaga / Q000187:drug effects; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D016967:Fusobacterium nucleatum / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014678:Veillonella / Q000187:drug effects
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D009067:Mouthwashes; D009822:Oils, Volatile