title: Chlorhexidine mouthwash reduces plaque and gingivitis.
abstract: METHODS
  Medline, Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases were searched along with the reference lists of all selected studies. Only English language studies were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised controlled clinical trials comparing chlorhexidine (CHX) to placebo/control mouthrinses for oral hygiene in studies of at least four weeks duration were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  Screening, selection and data abstractions were conducted independently by two reviewers. Where possible meta-analysis of weighted mean differences was carried out using fixed or random effects models where appropriate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty studies were included, with 13 studies contributing to the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis found significant differences favouring CHX for a range of indices; the Plaque Index Silness & Löe, Plaque-Index Quigley & Hein (PIQH), the Gingival Index (GI), Papillary BIeeding Index, Bleeding on Marginal Probing and the Lobene Stain Index. Relative to control, the reduction with CHX for plaque was 33% and for gingivitis 26%. CHX rinsing groups demonstrated significantly more staining.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In gingivitis patients, CHX mouthrinses together with OH versus placebo, or control mouthrinse provide significant reductions in plaque and gingivitis scores, but a significant increase in staining score.
authors.affiliation: Section of Periodontics, Faculty of Odontology, University Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Herrera