Anti-plaque Effectiveness of an Essential Oil Mouthrinse on Orthodontic Patients

Enamel decalcification during orthodontic treatment is an important concern associated with poor oral hygiene. There is considerable evidence to show that oral hygiene status is significantly improved when therapeutic mouthrinses are added into daily oral hygiene measures (toothbrushing and flossing). Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether Listerine® mouthrinse (Pfizer, Morris Plains, NJ) when added to the standard oral hygiene regimen (brushing + flossing) would have an added benefit in reducing plaque and gingivitis development in orthodontic patients over a six-month period. Methods: A total of 50 orthodontic patients were assigned either to the brush + floss (N = 25) or brush + floss + rinse with Listerine® (N = 25) group. Measurements for the Ramfjord teeth were recorded for the bleeding index (BI), modified gingival index (MGI) and plaque index (PI) at baseline (T1), 3 months (T2) and 6 months (T3). Data were analyzed with repeated-measures analysis of variance. A one-way ANOVA was used to determine differences in BI, MGI and PI between treatment groups at three measurement times. The significance level was determined at P < 0.05. Results: The response profiles for the BI, MGI, and PI over time were significantly different (p < .001) between the two groups. The results showed that the values at T2 and T3 were significantly different (p < .001), whereas the baseline measurements (T1) were not significantly different between the two groups. Patients who had Listerine® mouthrinse added to their daily oral hygiene regimen exhibited significantly lower BI, MGI, and PI scores at T2 and T3 than the patients who only brushed and flossed. Conclusions: This study suggests that the addition of Listerine® to the routine oral hygiene regimen has an added benefit for orthodontic patients in maintaining their proper oral health.