title: Perceived and measurable performance of daily brushing and rinsing with an essential oil mouthrinse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the oral health benefits of recommending twice daily brushing and rinsing with an essential oil mouthrinse (EOM) are perceived and measurable by dentists and also perceived by their patients at a 3-month recall visit.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a monadic, open label, uncontrolled study involving 766 generally healthy Italian subjects aged 19-66 years, with mild to moderate levels of gingivitis, no pockets of more than 4 mm, and at least 20 scorable teeth. Eight dentists scored subjects for plaque and gingivitis at baseline and at 90 days using simplified 4-point plaque and gingivitis indices. All subjects brushed twice daily, immediately followed by rinsing for 30 sec with 20 ml of an essential oil mouthrinse (Listerine(®)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  735 subjects completed the study (95.9%). Average score reductions were 51.9% and 45.7% for plaque and gingivitis, respectively. About 62% and 70% were judged by the dentists as improved for plaque control and gingival health. 85% of subjects judged the EOM as efficacious.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The oral health benefits of brushing and rinsing twice daily with an essential oil mouthrinse are perceived by patients and professionals alike and measurable by dentists at a 3-month recall visit.
authors.affiliation: "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pilloni
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pizzo
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barlattani
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Lenarda
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giannoni
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guida
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Levrini
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majorana
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polimeni