Abstract
Purpose: Various mechanical and chemotherapeutic methods are used to control dental plaque accumulation and prevent or reduce gingivitis. The purpose of this 12-week clinical trial was to investigate the effects of various combinations of supervised mechanical and chemotherapeutic regimens on the prevention and reduction of plaque, gingivitis, and gingival bleeding.
Methods: Volunteers presenting with some evidence of gingivitis and no severe periodontitis were randomized into four groups: brush only (BO); brush/rinse (BR); brush/floss (BF); brush/floss/rinse (BFR) for this examiner-blinded clinical trial. Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and a mouthrinse containing a fixed combination of four essential oils (EO) and training/instructions were provided to participants as per their assigned group. Participants performed their regimen at home, under virtual supervision, once each weekday; the second daily and weekend uses were unsupervised. Assessments included oral hard and soft tissue, plaque, gingivitis, and gingival bleeding (weeks 4, 12); probing depth and bleeding on probing (week 12).
Results: Of 213 enrolled participants, 209 completed the study. After 12 weeks, plaque, gingivitis, and gingival bleeding were significantly reduced in groups BR (35.8%, 50.8%, and 71.0% respectively, p<0.001) and BFR (32.8%, 54.1%, and 78.2% respectively, p<0.001) compared to BO. After 12 weeks, gingivitis and gingival bleeding were significantly reduced in the BF group (9.2%, p=0.013 and 17.5%, p=0.003, respectively), however there were no significant reductions in plaque in the BF group as compared to the BO group (p=0.935).
Conclusions: Oral care regimens that included a mouthrinse containing a fixed combination of four EOs (BR and BFR), demonstrated statistically significantly reduced plaque, gingivitis, and gingival bleeding as compared to BO and BF after 12 weeks. The BF regimen statistically significantly reduced gingivitis and gingival bleeding but did not statistically significantly reduce plaque compared to BO after 12 weeks.
Footnotes
This manuscript supports the NDHRA priority area, Client level: oral health care (new therapies and prevention modalities).
Disclosures
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (JJCI; Skillman, NJ, USA) sponsored this clinical trial and was responsible for the study design and the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data. Mary Lynn Bosma, James A. McGuire, Kathleen McAdoo, and Alicia DelSasso are employees of JJCI. Jeffery Milleman and Kimberly Milleman are principals at Salus Research, Inc., Fort Wayne, IN, USA and received grants from JJCI and conducted the study on behalf of JJCI. Kaylie Wills is an employee of Salus Research, Inc.
- Received February 28, 2022.
- Accepted May 10, 2022.
- Copyright © 2022 The American Dental Hygienists’ Association
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