Objective

This article reviews the rationale for incorporating
effective antimicrobial mouthrinses into a daily oral hygiene regimen along
with mechanical plaque control methods.

Methods

The author reviewed studies demonstrating the essential
etiologic role of a pathogenic dental plaque biofilm in the development of
gingivitis, as well as studies indicating that most people fail to maintain a
level of mechanical plaque control sufficient to prevent disease. In addition,
he did a brief review of studies of oral microbial ecology that identified the
oral mucosal tissues as a reservoir of bacteria that colonize tooth surfaces,
and he summarized 6-month clinical studies of marketed antimicrobial mouthrinse
ingredients and products.

Results

There is a twofold rationale for daily use of antimicrobial mouthrinses: first, given the inadequacy of mechanical plaque
control by the majority of people, as a component added to oral hygiene regimens for the control and prevention of periodontal diseases; second, as a
method of delivering antimicrobial agents to mucosal sites throughout the mouth that harbor pathogenic bacteria capable of recolonizing supragingival and
subgingival tooth surfaces, thereby providing a complementary mechanism of plaque control. The efficacy of several mouthrinse ingredients and products is
supported by published 6-month clinical trials.

Conclusion

The daily use of an effective antiplaque/antigingivitis antimicrobial mouthrinse is well-supported by a scientific rationale and can be
a valuable component of oral hygiene regimens.

REFERENCES

1.Barnett ML. The rationale for the daily use of an
antimicrobial mouthrinse. J Am Dent Assoc. 2006;

137(11 supplement):16S-21S.