Cytotoxicity of Mouth Rinses on Epithelial Cells by Micronucleus Test

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the cytotoxicity of three commercial mouth rinses Klorhex (0.2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate), Andorex (0.15% Benzidamine HCL and 0.12% Chlorhexidine Gluconate) and Tanflex (0.15% Benzidamine HCL) on buccal epithelial cells using micronucleus (MN) test. METHODS: 9 males and 12 females with aged 16-24 undergone three mouth rinses’ application were analyzed before and after one week exposure. The MN incidence was scored in the buccal epithelial of each participants. Epithelial cells collected from intra-oral buccal mucosa were smeared on to clean microscope glass slides. The cells were fixed with cold 100% methanol. The slides were aged at 37oC overnight and then stained with Giemsa. The slides were screened and 3000 nucleated cells were analyzed for the presence of MN at a final 100x magnification for each participant. The difference in the pre- and post-treatment after one week incidence of MN and plaque (PI) and gingival indices (GI) was compared by non-parametric statistical tests. RESULTS: In all mouth rinse groups, MN incidence was significantly increased after 7 days treatment (P< 0.05). GI scores of all groups were decreased significantly (P<0.05). PI scores were decreased only in the Klorhex group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our primary findings supported the presence of possible cytotoxic and/or mutagenic effects of the mouth rinses on gingival epithelial cells. Our data indicate that a more detailed study on the long-term effects of mouth rinses in higher number of patients is needed.