Original Article |
Corresponding author: Blagovesta K. Yaneva ( blagovesta.yaneva@gmail.com ) © 2022 Blagovesta K. Yaneva, Yana B. Dermendzhieva, Maria Z. Mutafchieva, Nikola V. Stamenov, Lilia B. Kavlakova, Mihail Z. Tanev, Emiliya Karaslavova, Georgi T. Tomov.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Yaneva BK, Dermendzhieva YB, Mutafchieva MZ, Stamenov NV, Kavlakova LB, Tanev MZ, Karaslavova E, Tomov GT (2022) Randomised controlled trial comparing the clinical effectiveness of mouthwashes based on essential oils, chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide and prebiotic in gingivitis treatment. Folia Medica 64(4): 588-595. https://doi.org/10.3897/folmed.64.e63528
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Aim: The present clinical study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy of 5 types of mouthwash based on different active substances.
Materials and methods: The study included 180 patients divided into 6 groups of 30 patients, each group rinsing with one of the following types of mouthwash based on: essential oils, combination of essential oils and 0.12% chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide (0.8%), prebiotic, 0.2% chlorhexidine, and placebo. All participants underwent professional mechanical plaque removal after which they were instructed to rinse with 15 ml mouthwash 2 times a day for 21 days. During the study period, patients were monitored at days 0, 14, and 21, examining oral hygiene index, gingival index, bleeding index, and presence of side effects.
Results: Gingival index, bleeding index, and oral hygiene index were reduced statistically significantly in all treatment groups. Adjunctive use of mouthwashes demonstrated better clinical effectiveness compared to mechanical plaque control (and placebo mouthwash). The gingival index and the plaque index were reduced most significantly in the group using mouthwash with hydrogen peroxide. The bleeding index decrease was most significant in the group using 0.2% chlorhexidine.
Conclusions: All tested mouthwashes demonstrated significant clinical effectiveness in different degrees in gingivitis treatment. New formulas with prebiotic and combination of essential oils and chlorhexidine indicate promising effectiveness.
chlorhexidine, essential oils, gingivitis, hydrogen peroxide, mouthwashes, prebiotics
Gingivitis is a plaque-induced inflammatory response to the bacterial plaque accumulation around the gingival margin.[
In a recent systematic review and meta-analysis, Figuero et al. reported that the adjunctive use of antiseptics leads to significant reduction of gingival inflammation.[
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of different active agents – essential oils, combination of essential oils and 0.12% chlorhexidine, 0.2% chlorhexidine, prebiotic, and 0.8% hydrogen peroxide in the adjunctive gingivitis treatment.
The study included 180 patients (53.25% female and 46.75% male) recruited by referral. The mean age of the participants is 27.16±7.37 years. They were divided into 6 groups of 30 patients. Forty-three (23.9%) patients were smokers smoking 6.45±7.28 cigarettes per day. All patients signed an informed consent prior to the examination. The study was conducted in the Department of Periodontology and Oral Mucosa Diseases, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria from September 2020 to December 2020. Each group rinsed with one of the following types of mouthwash – mouthwash based on essential oils (menthol, thymol and eucalyptus, 24% alcohol) – group 1, mouthwash based on essential oils (menthol, thymol and eucalyptus, 14.5%) and 0.12% chlorhexidine – group 2, placebo (containing water, sweetener and flavoring) – group 3, mouthwash based on 0.2% chlorhexidine (without alcohol) – group 4, mouthwash based on prebiotic (inulin) – group 5, and mouthwash based on hydrogen peroxide (0.8%) – group 6. The mouthwashes were in a process of development and this was a Phase II clinical trial (detailed information about all the ingredients is available on request from the corresponding author). Inclusion criteria were: generalized gingival inflammation, plaque index (PI) >1.95 (modified Quigley & Hein Oral hygiene index of Turesky, 1970 – OHI[
The statistical analysis was performed with IBM SPSS Statistics Ver.19.0.
The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of Medical University of Plovdiv (Protocol 7/01.10.2020).
The mean values for GI, BI and OHI at each appointment (initial – I, 14th day – II and 21st day – III) are presented in Table
Regarding the bleeding index (BI), a similar trend is observed, as on the second and third visit the lowest reported values were in group 5 (BI – 6.63% of the second and BI – 3, 71% on the third visit) and group 6 (BI -11.66% on the second and BI – 7.60% on the third visit). The next group with best values in the bleeding index was group 4 (BI – 12.53% on the second and BI – 11.33% on the third visit). In fourth place is group 2 – 19.30% at the second and 11.36% at the third visit.
At the third visit (after 21 days of water use) the lowest values of OHI were observed in group 1 (PI – 0.83), followed by group 4 (PI – 1.21).
The gingival index (GI) decreased statistically significantly for all groups within 21 days (third visit) (Table
Considering reduction of bleeding at the end of follow-up – the third visit compared to the first study, it was the highest in group 4 – 0.2% chlorhexidine (50.10%), followed by group 6 – hydrogen peroxide (44.67%) and group 5 – prebiotic (44.18%), and finally by group 2 – essential oils in combination with 0.12% chlorhexidine (34.91%) and group 1 – only essential oils (30.62%) (Table
The oral hygiene index (OHI) decreased significantly at days 14 and 21 in all study groups compared to baseline (p<0.05). The best reduction was demonstrated in group 6 – hydrogen peroxide (reduction is 1.34), followed by group 1 – essential oils (1.24). The decrease of the plaque index in group 4 – 0.2% chlorhexidine and group 5 – prebiotic was also >1 (1.17 and 1.19, respectively) (Table
Neither of the groups reported staining of teeth after using the mouthwashes. Only a burning sensation was reported in groups 1, 2, and 6, where in the first two groups, 30% of the participants reported this side effect, whereas in group 6, only 16% reported the adverse effect (Table
Mean values of gingival index, bleeding index, and oral hygiene index for the first, second, and third visits
Index | Mouthwash | N | Mean | Std. Deviation | χ2 | Sig. |
Gingival index – 1st visit | 1 | 30 | 1.71 | 0.19 | 26.401 | 0.000 |
2 | 30 | 1.11 | 0.17 | |||
3 | 30 | 1.24 | 0.24 | |||
4 | 30 | 1.62 | 0.23 | |||
5 | 30 | 1.35 | 0.34 | |||
6 | 30 | 1.50 | 0.26 | |||
Total | 180 | 1.42 | 0.32 | |||
Gingival index – 2nd visit | 1 | 30 | 1.44 | 0.13 | 57.442 | 0.000 |
2 | 30 | 0.40 | 0.23 | |||
3 | 30 | 0.52 | 0.32 | |||
4 | 30 | 0.83 | 0.55 | |||
5 | 30 | 0.38 | 0.24 | |||
6 | 30 | 0.27 | 0.25 | |||
Total | 180 | 0.64 | 0.51 | |||
Gingival index – 3rd visit | 1 | 30 | 1.02 | 0.09 | 38.645 | 0.000 |
2 | 30 | 0.24 | 0.12 | |||
3 | 30 | 0.42 | 0.25 | |||
4 | 30 | 0.79 | 0.56 | |||
5 | 30 | 0.38 | 0.28 | |||
6 | 30 | 0.18 | 0.14 | |||
Total | 180 | 0.50 | 0.41 | |||
Bleeding index – 1st visit | 1 | 30 | 46.25 | 13.25 | 4.846 | 0.000 |
2 | 30 | 46.27 | 13.93 | |||
3 | 30 | 41.62 | 12.54 | |||
4 | 30 | 61.43 | 22.83 | |||
5 | 30 | 47.88 | 16.92 | |||
6 | 30 | 52.27 | 20.3 | |||
Total | 180 | 49.29 | 17.9 | |||
Bleeding index – 2nd visit | 1 | 30 | 21.68 | 5.92 | 9.083 | 0.000 |
2 | 30 | 19.30 | 11.56 | |||
3 | 30 | 21.36 | 13.85 | |||
4 | 30 | 12.53 | 14.47 | |||
5 | 30 | 6.63 | 8.15 | |||
6 | 30 | 11.66 | 10.64 | |||
Total | 180 | 15.53 | 12.37 | |||
Bleeding index – 3rd visit | 1 | 30 | 15.63 | 4.59 | 9.817 | 0.000 |
2 | 30 | 11.36 | 6.06 | |||
3 | 30 | 17.58 | 10.51 | |||
4 | 30 | 11.33 | 14.31 | |||
5 | 30 | 3.71 | 6.78 | |||
6 | 30 | 7.60 | 7.47 | |||
Total | 180 | 11.20 | 9.93 | |||
Oral hygiene index – 1st visit | 1 | 30 | 2.07 | 0.14 | 19.045 | 0.00 |
2 | 30 | 2.84 | 0.44 | |||
3 | 30 | 2.13 | 0.20 | |||
4 | 30 | 2.38 | 0.46 | |||
5 | 30 | 2.55 | 0.30 | |||
6 | 30 | 2.71 | 0.60 | |||
Total | 180 | 2.45 | 0.48 | |||
Index | Mouthwash | N | Mean | Std. Deviation | χ2 | Sig. |
Oral hygiene index – 2nd visit | 1 | 30 | 1.11 | 0.22 | 22.898 | 0.00 |
2 | 30 | 2.22 | 0.36 | |||
3 | 30 | 1.13 | 0.48 | |||
4 | 30 | 1.26 | 0.68 | |||
5 | 30 | 1.81 | 0.62 | |||
6 | 30 | 1.50 | 0.52 | |||
Total | 180 | 1.51 | 0.64 | |||
Oral hygiene index – 3rd visit | 1 | 30 | 0.83 | 0.20 | 25.269 | 0.00 |
2 | 30 | 2.03 | 0.22 | |||
3 | 30 | 1.09 | 0.47 | |||
4 | 30 | 1.21 | 0.66 | |||
5 | 30 | 1.36 | 0.41 | |||
6 | 30 | 1.37 | 0.50 | |||
Total | 180 | 1.32 | 0.57 |
Mouthwash | GI between I and II; II and III; I and III visits | Mean value of the differences | Std. deviation | U | Sig. |
1. Essential oils | GI – 1st visit – 2nd visit | 0.27 | 0.23 | 6.265 | 0.00 |
GI – 2nd visit – 3rd visit | 0.42 | 0.15 | 15.917 | 0.00 | |
GI – 1st visit – 3rd visit | 0.69 | 0.26 | 14.684 | 0.00 | |
2. Essential oils + 0.12% CHX | GI – 1st visit – 2nd visit | 0.70 | 0.15 | 25.194 | 0.00 |
GI – 2nd visit – 3rd visit | 0.16 | 0.13 | 6.7605 | 0.00 | |
GI – 1st visit – 3rd visit | 0.87 | 0.11 | 41.79 | 0.00 | |
3. Placebo | GI – 1st visit – 2nd visit | 0.71 | 0.30 | 12.978 | 0.00 |
GI – 2nd visit – 3rd visit | 0.10 | 0.23 | 2.3977 | 0.02 | |
GI – 1st visit – 3rd visit | 0.81 | 0.27 | 16.76 | 0.00 | |
4. 0.2% CHX | GI – 1st visit – 2nd visit | 0.79 | 0.46 | 9.324 | 0.00 |
GI – 2nd visit – 3rd visit | 0.05 | 0.20 | 1.252 | 0.22 | |
GI – 1st visit – 3rd visit | 0.83 | 0.47 | 9.79 | 0.00 | |
5. Prebiotic | GI – 1st visit – 2nd visit | 0.97 | 0.44 | 12.124 | 0.00 |
GI – 2nd visit – 3rd visit | 0.01 | 0.20 | 0.1022 | 0.92 | |
GI – 1st visit – 3rd visit | 0.97 | 0.46 | 11.506 | 0.00 | |
6. 0.8% H2O2 | GI – 1st visit – 2nd visit | 1.23 | 0.32 | 20.806 | 0.00 |
GI – 2nd visit – 3rd visit | 0.09 | 0.18 | 2.7247 | 0.01 | |
GI – 1st visit – 3rd visit | 1.31 | 0.22 | 32.276 | 0.00 |
Mouthwash | BI between I and II; II and III; I and III visits | Mean value of the differences | Std. deviation | U | Sig. |
1. Essential oils | BI – 1st visit – 2nd visit | 24.57 | 12.39 | 10.861 | 0.00 |
BI – 2nd visit – 3rd visit | 6.05 | 4.62 | 7.1758 | 0.00 | |
BI – 1st visit – 3rd visit | 30.62 | 10.75 | 15.603 | 0.00 | |
2. Essential oils + 0.12% CHX | BI – 1st visit – 2nd visit | 26.97 | 9.21 | 16.048 | 0.00 |
BI – 2nd visit – 3rd visit | 7.94 | 6.58 | 6.6046 | 0.00 | |
BI – 1st visit – 3rd visit | 34.91 | 10.15 | 18.84 | 0.00 | |
3. Placebo | BI – 1st visit – 2nd visit | 20.26 | 15.15 | 7.327 | 0.00 |
BI – 2nd visit – 3rd visit | 3.78 | 10.70 | 1.9345 | 0.06 | |
BI – 1st visit – 3rd visit | 24.04 | 14.56 | 9.047 | 0.00 | |
4. 0.2% CHX | BI – 1st visit – 2nd visit | 48.88 | 16.72 | 16.021 | 0.00 |
BI – 2nd visit – 3rd visit | 1.2 | 3.22 | 2.0408 | 0.05 | |
BI – 1st visit – 3rd visit | 50.10 | 17.95 | 15.283 | 0.00 | |
5. Prebiotic | BI – 1st visit – 2nd visit | 41.25 | 14.80 | 15.265 | 0.00 |
BI – 2nd visit – 3rd visit | 2.93 | 4.24 | 3.7815 | 0.00 | |
BI – 1st visit – 3rd visit | 44.18 | 16.03 | 15.093 | 0.00 | |
6. 0.8% H2O2 | BI – 1st visit – 2nd visit | 40.61 | 19.84 | 11.211 | 0.00 |
BI – 2nd visit – 3rd visit | 4.06 | 6.30 | 3.5273 | 0.00 | |
BI – 1st visit – 3rd visit | 44.67 | 18.72 | 13.072 | 0.00 |
Mouthwash | OHI between I and II; II and III; I and III visits | Mean value of the differences | Std. deviation | U | Sig. |
1. Essential oils | PI – 1st visit – 2nd visit | 0.95 | 0.26 | 20.325 | 0.00 |
PI – 2nd visit – 3rd visit | 0.28 | 0.10 | 15.251 | 0.00 | |
PI – 1st visit – 3rd visit | 1.24 | 0.24 | 27.883 | 0.00 | |
2. Essential oils + 0.12% CHX | PI – 1st visit – 2nd visit | 0.61 | 0.39 | 8.526 | 0.00 |
PI – 2nd visit – 3rd visit | 0.19 | 0.26 | 3.9527 | 0.00 | |
PI – 1st visit – 3rd visit | 0.80 | 0.40 | 10.982 | 0.00 | |
3. Placebo | PI – 1st visit – 2nd visit | 1.00 | 0.47 | 11.719 | 0.00 |
PI – 2nd visit – 3rd visit | 0.05 | 0.32 | 0.7778 | 0.44 | |
PI – 1st visit – 3rd visit | 1.05 | 0.50 | 11.397 | 0.00 | |
4. 0.2% CHX | PI – 1st visit – 2nd visit | 1.12 | 0.48 | 12.92 | 0.00 |
PI – 2nd visit – 3rd visit | 0.05 | 0.16 | 1.7441 | 0.09 | |
PI – 1st visit – 3rd visit | 1.17 | 0.47 | 13.615 | 0.00 | |
5. Prebiotic | PI – 1st visit – 2nd visit | 0.74 | 0.77 | 5.293 | 0.00 |
PI – 2nd visit – 3rd visit | 0.45 | 0.52 | 4.7389 | 0.00 | |
PI – 1st visit – 3rd visit | 1.19 | 0.55 | 11.803 | 0.00 | |
6. 0.8 % H2O2 | PI – 1st visit – 2nd visit | 1.21 | 0.51 | 13.123 | 0.00 |
PI – 2nd visit – 3rd visit | 0.13 | 0.37 | 1.9159 | 0.06 | |
PI – 1st visit – 3rd visit | 1.34 | 0.55 | 13.372 | 0.00 |
Presence of side effects | Total | ||||||
No | Burning | Pinching | Both | ||||
Mouthwash | 1. Essential oils | Count | 19 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 30 |
% | 63.3% | 3.3% | 33.3% | 0.0% | 100.0% | ||
2. Essential oils + 0.12% CHX | Count | 19 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 30 | |
% | 63.3% | 20.0% | 16.7% | 0.0% | 100.0% | ||
3. Placebo | Count | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | |
% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% | ||
4. 0.2% CHX | Count | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | |
% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% | ||
5. Prebiotic | Count | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | |
% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% | ||
6. 0.8% H2O2 | Count | 25 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 30 | |
% | 83.3% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 3.3% | 100.0% | ||
Total | Count | 153 | 9 | 17 | 1 | 180 | |
% | 85.0% | 5.0% | 9.4% | 6% | 100.0% |
The present study is conducted as an intermediate-length trial (2 weeks to 2 months), which allows the assessment of gingivitis.[
Gingival index reduces statistically significantly at the second and third appointments in all treatment groups compared to the initial visit. In the group using essential oils and high percentage alcohol, the decrease of GI was the smallest (Table
According to recent studies, the bleeding index (BI) is considered to be the main index showing the stability of treatment and the absence of active disease.[
Plaque index reduction is the most significant in the group where patients used mouthwash with 0.8% hydrogen peroxide. The effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide in different concentrations is controversial.[
In the present study, we used clinically for the first time the combination of essential oils and chlorhexidine as active ingredients of mouthwash. All indexes tested reduced significantly after 21 days of its application in the adjunct treatment of gingivitis. The combination of essential oils and chlorhexidine seems to have better antimicrobial effectiveness when used alone, which could lead to better clinical effectiveness in gingivitis treatment as it is a plaque induced disease.[
Probiotics are used in mouthwashes demonstrating clinical effectiveness comparable to mouthwashes with chlorhexidine.[
All tested mouthwashes demonstrated significant, but also varying degrees of improvement in clinical parameters after their use in adjunctive therapy of generalized gingivitis. New formulas with prebiotic and combination of essential oils and chlorhexidine indicate promising effectiveness.
The authors are grateful to ROSAIMPEX LTD, Plovdiv, Bulgaria for their support and cooperation in the development and manufacturing of the mouthwashes included in this study. The research was performed in the Department of Periodontology and oral mucosa diseases, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University of Plovdiv. The authors declare no conflict of interest related to the present study.
The study is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov under the following identifier: NCT04733196.