Effect of an Essential Oil Mouthrinse, with and without Fluoride, on Plaque Metabolic Acid Production and pH after a Sucrose Challenge

• Published in: Caries research Vol. 38; no. 6; pp. 537 - 541
• Main Authors: Zhang, J.Z., Harper, D.S., Vogel, G.L., Schumacher, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.11.2004
• Subjects: Acetic Acid - metabolism; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Biofilms - drug effects; Cariostatic Agents - chemistry; Cariostatic Agents - pharmacology; Cariostatic Agents - therapeutic use; Cross-Over Studies; Dental Plaque - drug therapy; Dental Plaque - metabolism; Drug Combinations; Female; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration - drug effects; Lactic Acid - biosynthesis; Male; Mouthwashes - chemistry; Mouthwashes - pharmacology; Mouthwashes - therapeutic use; Original Paper; Propionates - metabolism; Salicylates - chemistry; Salicylates - pharmacology; Salicylates - therapeutic use; Single-Blind Method; Sodium Fluoride - chemistry; Sodium Fluoride - pharmacology; Sodium Fluoride - therapeutic use; Sucrose - pharmacology; Terpenes - chemistry; Terpenes - pharmacology; Terpenes - therapeutic use; pH; Fluoride; Metabolic acids; Essential oil mouthrinse; Plaque
• ISSN: 0008-6568; 1421-976X
• DOI: 10.1159/000080583

This clinical study evaluated the effect of rinsing with an essential oil-containing antiseptic mouthrinse, with or without 100 mg/kg fluoride ion, on the plaque metabolic acid production and plaque pH response after a sucrose challenge. This observer-blind, randomized study used a three-way crossover design. Twenty-four subjects rinsed with 20 ml of one of the following rinses: (1) essential oil (EO) mouthrinse, (2) essential oil mouthrinse plus 100 mg/kg fluoride, or (3) negative control, for 30 s, twice daily for 16 days. On day 17, 1 h after the last mouthrinse, subjects rinsed with 20 ml of mass fraction 10% sucrose solution for 1 min. Seven minutes after the sucrose challenge, supragingival plaque was collected from molar and premolar teeth. Plaque pH and metabolic acid ions were analyzed using a micro pH electrode and capillary electrophoresis, respectively. The results showed that after EO mouthrinse dental plaque produced 36% less lactate, 36% less acetate and 44% less propionate than after the negative control rinse. The dental plaque also exhibited a pH 0.42 unit higher after EO rinse than after the negative control rinse. These results were not affected by the addition of 100 mg/kg fluoride to the EO mouthrinse. From these results we concluded that this EO antiseptic mouthrinse, with or without fluoride ion, is effective in reduction of plaque acidogenicity after a sucrose challenge.