title: Efficacy of essential oil mouthwash with and without alcohol: a 3-day plaque accumulation model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiplaque effect of a new alcohol free essential oil mouthwash with respect to a control of an essential oil with alcohol mouthwash, using an in vivo plaque regrowth model of 3-days.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was designed as a double-masked, randomized, crossover clinical trial, involving 30 volunteers to compare two different essential oil containing mouthwashes, during a 3-day plaque accumulation model. After receiving a thorough professional prophylaxis at the baseline, over the next 3-days each volunteer refrained from all oral hygiene measures and had two daily rinses with 20 ml of the test mouthwash (alcohol free essential oil) or the control mouthwash (essential oil with alcohol). At the end of the each experimental period, plaque was assessed and the panelists filled out a questionnaire. Each subject underwent a 14 days washout period and there was a second allocation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The essential oil mouthwash with ethanol shows a better inhibitory effect of plaque regrowth in 3-days than the mouthwash test with only essential oil in the whole mouth (plaque index = 2.18 against 2.46, respectively, p < 0.05); for the lower jaw (plaque index = 2.28 against 2.57, respectively, p < 0.05); for the upper jaw (plaque index = 2.08 against 2.35, respectively, p < 0.05); for the incisors (plaque index = 1.93 against 2.27, respectively, p < 0.05); and the canines (plaque index = 1.99 against 2.47, respectively, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The essential oil containing mouthwash without alcohol seems to have a less inhibiting effect on the plaque regrowth than the traditional alcoholic solution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of L'Aquila, P.le G. Liberatore, Ed. Delta 6, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy. enrico.marchetti@cc.univaq.it
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marchetti
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mummolo
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Di Mattia
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Casalena
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Martino
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mattei
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marzo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D000431:Ethanol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009067:Mouthwashes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D000431:Ethanol; D002710:Chlorhexidine