Efficacy of mouth rinse formulation based on cetylpyridinium chloride 0.1% in the control of dental calculus buildup

Objective: This study aimed at comparing the antiplaque, anticalculus, and antigingivitis potentials of a mouth rinse containing essential oil, alcohol, zinc, and fluoride with a mouth rinse containing cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) 0.1% over 1-, 2-, and 3-month periods. Methods: This study was a double-blind, parallel randomized clinical trial with a 3-day run-in phase. Respondents were asked to gargle twice daily with 15 ml of mouth rinse for 30 seconds after brushing teeth. Respondents were 80 females with a mean age of 21 years, and a single dental examiner was employed throughout the study to decrease the variance. Prophylaxis was performed for all respondents before the intervention. Three mouth rinses were tested: Group 1 with the mouth rinse containing CPC 0.1%, Group 2 as the negative control, and Group 3 as the positive control with a mouth rinse containing alcohol. Evaluations were conducted by plaque index, gingival index, calculus index, and CariScreen examinations. Results: The clinical trial showed that the mouth rinse with alcohol and the mouth rinse containing CPC 0.1% were effective in inhibiting bacterial buildup (antiplaque) and have anticalculus properties, but with no statistically significant antigingivitis effect. Conclusion: It was found that the mouth rinse containing alcohol has similar effectiveness with CPC 0.1% mouth rinse, but side effects, such as a burning sensation, were reported in the alcohol-containing mouth rinse.