title: Comparative effect of fluoride, essential oil and chlorhexidine mouth rinses on dental plaque and gingivitis in patients with and without dental caries: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of fluoride, essential oil (EO) and chlorhexidine (CHX)-containing mouth rinses on dental plaque and gingivitis and to compare their relative efficacy in patients with and without dental caries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, controlled, double- blind, crossover clinical trial was conducted for a period of 8 weeks. Thiry-six qualifying subjects, aged 12-44 years, were included in the study. Subjects were divided into caries and caries-free groups and were randomly assigned to one of the following mouth rinse groups: fluoride; EO; CHX and saline as negative control. Subjects used their respective mouth rinse for a period of 7-days each with 1-week wash-out periods. Primary efficacy variables were Quigley-Hein plaque index (PI) and Loe and Silness gingival index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fluoride and CHX mouth rinses showed significant reduction in plaque after use of mouth rinses (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed with respect to each other in reducing gingivitis (P > 0.05). Further significant differences were found in reducing plaque and gingivitis in caries-free subjects in comparison to those with caries (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All the three mouth rinses significantly reduced plaque accumulation and gingivitis especially in caries-free subjects in comparison to those with caries, and amongst the three, fluoride and CHX proved to be more effective than EO mouth rinse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Narayana dental college, Nellore, India.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Charugundla
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anjum
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mocherla
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010919:Placebos; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D009067:Mouthwashes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010919:Placebos; D005459:Fluorides; D002710:Chlorhexidine
keywords: dental caries; gingivitis; mouth rinses; plaque