title: A double-blind randomized  placebo-controlled study on the  clinical and microbial effects of an essential oil mouth rinse used by patients in supportive periodontal care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This 3-month double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study evaluated the clinical and microbial effects of an essential oil mouth rinse used as an adjunct to mechanical plaque control by patients in supportive periodontal care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients were randomly allocated to an essential oil group (Listerine(®)  Coolmint; Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ, USA) or placebo group to rinse twice per day as an adjunct to mechanical plaque control. At baseline and after 3 months, plaque index (PI), gingivitis index (GI), probing pocket depth, bleeding on probing (BoP) and clinical attachment level were registered. Subgingival plaque samples were collected for the detection and quantification of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, Micromonas micros, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium genus and Streptococcus mutans by means of real-time PCR (qPCR). Patient's compliance, satisfaction and side effects were registered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-three patients in the essential oil group (mean age: 57) and 21 in the placebo group (mean age: 55) with acceptable oral hygiene at intake (mean PI <1.5 on a scale of 5) adhered to the study protocol. Gingivitis index, PI and BoP significantly reduced over time (P ≤ 0.029); however, between group analyses revealed no significant differences. There was no significant change over time neither in detection frequency nor load for any of the microbiota. Daily rinsing with an essential oil rinse was found safe and perceived beneficial by the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients in supportive periodontal care who are fairly compliant with oral hygiene may not benefit from additional mouth rinsing using an essential oil solution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology and Oral Implantology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dental School, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium. jan.cosyn@ugent.be
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cosyn
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Princen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miremadi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Decat
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaneechoutte
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: De Bruyn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000187:drug effects; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000187:drug effects; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005673:Fusobacterium / Q000187:drug effects; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010462:Peptostreptococcus / Q000187:drug effects; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000517:prevention & control; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000517:prevention & control; D010919:Placebos; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000187:drug effects; D018713:Prevotella intermedia / Q000187:drug effects; D012459:Salicylates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects; D013729:Terpenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D048373:Treponema denticola / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009067:Mouthwashes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010919:Placebos; D012459:Salicylates; D013729:Terpenes; C057473:Listerine