The aim of this in vivo study was to evaluate the effect of two antimicrobial mouth rinses on dental plaque acidogenicity after a sucrose challenge.¹

This double-blind, intra-individual randomised study assessed the effect of LISTERINE^®, chlorhexidine (0.12%, alcohol-free) and water (as a negative control) on dental plaque acidogencity after a sucrose challenge (n=20).¹.

The three mouth rinses were used in 16-day rinsing periods in addition to the subjects’ regular mechanical oral hygiene. The three test periods were separated by 3-month washout periods. Changes in plaque acidogenicity were evaluated after a sucrose challenge at day 0 (baseline) and at day 17 of each mouth rinse period using the microtouch method.¹

Both LISTERINE^® and the chlorhexidine rinse resulted in a statistically significant reduction in pH fall compared to the water rinse at day 17. There was no statistically significant difference between the two mouth rinses during the whole 30-minute period. When calculated as area under the curve for a pH of less than 6.2 (AUC6.2), significantly lower values were found for LISTERINE^® and the chlorhexidine rinse at day 17 compared to day 0. Large inter-individual variations were observed.¹

The results from this study indicate that both LISTERINE^® and the alcohol-free chlorhexidine rinse reduced plaque acidogenicity after a sucrose challenge.¹