Compressed mints and chewing gum containing magnolia bark extract are effective against bacteria responsible for oral malodor.

J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Nov 14;55(23):9465-9

Authors: Greenberg M, Urnezis P, Tian M

Flavors and natural botanic extracts are often used in chewing gum and compressed mints for breath freshening and relief of oral malodor. The oral malodor is a result of bacterial putrification of proteinaceous materials from food or saliva. In this study, magnolia bark extract (MBE) and its two main components, magnolol and honokiol, were evaluated by the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) test. The inhibitory effect of MBE mint was further evaluated by a kill-time assay study. In addition, an in vivo study was performed on nine healthy volunteers postlunch. Saliva samples were taken before and after subjects consumed mints and gum, with and without MBE. Listerine mouthwash was included as a positive control. The testing results indicated that MBE and its two main constituents demonstrated a strong germ-kill effect against bacteria responsible for halitosis and also Streptococcus mutans, bacteria involved in dental caries formation. The MIC of magnolol, honokiol, and MBE on Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and S. mutans ranged from 8 to 31 microg/mL. Kill-time assay results indicated that mints containing 0.2% MBE reduced more than 99.9% of three oral bacteria within 5 min of treatment. The in vivo study demonstrated that MBE containing mints reduced total salivary bacteria by 61.6% at 30 min and 33.8% at 60 min postconsumption. In comparison, the flavorless mint reduced total salivary bacteria by 3.6% at 30 min and increased total bacteria by 47.9% at 60 min. The MBE containing chewing gum reduced total salivary bacteria by 43.0% at 40 min, while placebo gum reduced total salivary bacteria by 18.0%. In conclusion, MBE demonstrated a significant antibacterial activity against organisms responsible for oral malodor and can be incorporated in compressed mints and chewing gum for improved breath-freshening benefits.

PMID: 17949053 [PubMed - in process]

New literacies, multiple literacies, unlimited literacies: what now, what next, where to? A response to blue listerine, parochialism and ASL literacy.

J Deaf Stud Deaf Educ. 2006;11(3):382-7

Authors: Paul PV

This article is a response to Blue Listerine, Parochialism, and ASL Literacy (Czubek, 2006). The author presents his views on the concepts of literacy and the new and multiple literacies. In addition, the merits of print literacy and other types of literacies are discussed. Although the author agrees that there is an American Sign Language (ASL) literacy, he maintains that there should be a distinction between conversational "literacy" forms (speech and sign) and secondary literacy forms (reading and writing). It might be that cognitive skills associated with print literacy and, possibly, other captured literacy forms, are necessary for a technological, scientific-driven society such as that which exists in the United States.

PMID: 16614376 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Blue listerine, parochialism, and ASL literacy.

J Deaf Stud Deaf Educ. 2006;11(3):373-81

Authors: Czubek TA

There are not many elements of human life that have had as significant an impact on our development as literacy. Literacy has certainly been, and remains, a crucial issue especially in Deaf Education and in the Deaf World. The traditional definition of literacy has been exclusively understood as reading and writing. However, this article is intended to provide a thoughtful and provocative commentary that supports adopting new directions and comprehensive definitions for understanding literacy, which includes both written and signed languages. By applying ideas from Deaf Studies and New Literacy Studies we will conduct a thorough exploration of the fundamental components of literacy and illuminate important political and practical applications related to Deaf Education.

PMID: 16556898 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Antibacterial and antiplaque effects of a novel, alcohol-free oral rinse with cetylpyridinium chloride.

J Contemp Dent Pract. 2005 Feb 15;6(1):1-9

Authors: Witt J, Ramji N, Gibb R, Dunavent J, Flood J, Barnes J

Antimicrobial agents are commonly incorporated into hygiene products for the treatment and prevention of plaque and gingivitis. Recently, a new alcohol-free rinse containing 0.07% cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) in a high bioavailable matrix (Crest Pro-Health Rinse) was introduced to provide antiplaque and antigingivitis benefits. This paper reviews results from an in vitro pre-clinical study and an in vivo clinical study evaluating the antibacterial and antiplaque benefits of this CPC rinse technology. In the in vitro experiment, a no-alcohol 0.065% high bioavailable CPC prototype rinse was evaluated for its hostility against a broad range of microorganisms commonly associated with plaque and gingivitis. The rinse demonstrated greater than 99% germ kill for all organisms tested individually as well as in whole saliva. The benefit of this antibacterial action on plaque inhibition was assessed in a clinical trial. A double-blinded, 3-period, 6-sequence crossover study was conducted evaluating the antiplaque effect of the novel 0.07% high bioavailable, alcohol-free CPC rinse versus a positive control (Listerine Cool Mint containing essential oils) and a negative control (placebo CPC rinse). A modification of the Addy 4-day plaque model was used for this evaluation. Plaque was measured at baseline (Day 1) of each treatment period and at Day 4 using the Turesky modification of Quigley-Hein index. During the treatment period, subjects brushed only their lingual surfaces twice daily for up to 60 seconds. Following brushing, subjects used 20 mls of the mouthrinse product for 30 seconds in the morning and evening. Fifty-five subjects completed the study. For non-brushed sites, both the essential oils and CPC rinse exhibited a 25% reduction in plaque vs. placebo after four days of product usage, which was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Both treatments also exhibited a statistically significant benefit versus placebo (p<0.0001) for brushed sites (>38% plaque reduction). These data support the antibacterial action of the high bioavailable, alcohol-free CPC rinse and demonstrate antiplaque effects for Crest Pro-Health Rinse that are "at least as good as" the leading essential oils antiseptic, making it well-suited for a broad range of patients, particularly those who are sensitive to products containing alcohol.

PMID: 15719071 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Adjunctive benefit of an essential oil-containing mouthrinse in reducing plaque and gingivitis in patients who brush and floss regularly: a six-month study.

J Am Dent Assoc. 2004 Apr;135(4):496-504

Authors: Sharma N, Charles CH, Lynch MC, Qaqish J, McGuire JA, Galustians JG, Kumar LD

BACKGROUND: Mechanical methods of oral hygiene can be complemented by the use of chemotherapeutic mouthrinses. The authors sought to quantify the additional benefit provided by an essential oil-, or EO-, containing mouthrinse in reducing plaque and gingivitis in patients who brush and floss regularly. METHODS: The authors randomly assigned patients with gingivitis to one of three treatment groups: brushing and rinsing with a control mouthrinse, or BC; brushing, flossing and rinsing with a control mouthrinse, or BFC; or brushing, flossing and rinsing with an EO-containing mouthrinse, or BFEO. Patients received a dental prophylaxis at baseline, and the authors followed them for six months. RESULTS: Of 246 enrolled subjects enrolled in the study, 237 subjects were evaluable at the study's conclusion. After six months, the subjects using the BFEO regimen had statistically and clinically significant lower mean Modified Gingival Index, or MGI, scores and Plaque Index, or PI, scores than did subjects in the BC group (29.9 percent and 56.3 percent, respectively; P < .001). Subjects in the BFC group had statistically significantly lower mean MGI and PI scores than did subjects in the BC group (11.2 percent and 9.3 percent, respectively; P < .001). Subjects in the BFEO group exhibited statistically and clinically significantly lower mean scores for MGI and PI than did subjects in the BFC group (21 percent and 51.9 percent, respectively; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that for patients with gingivitis who brush and floss routinely, the adjunctive use of an EO-containing mouthrinse provides a clinically significant and meaningful additional benefit in reducing plaque and gingivitis. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: An EO-containing mouthrinse is an effective adjunct to regular brushing and flossing. Therefore, the BFEO regimen can be beneficial for patients with gingival inflammation.

PMID: 15127875 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

The remineralizing effect of an essential oil fluoride mouthrinse in an intraoral caries test.

J Am Dent Assoc. 2004 Feb;135(2):231-7

Authors: Zero DT, Zhang JZ, Harper DS, Wu M, Kelly S, Waskow J, Hoffman M

BACKGROUND: The authors conducted a two-week clinical study to determine the remineralizing effect of an experimental mouthrinse containing both fluoride and essential oils in an intraoral caries test model. METHODS: The study used an observer-blinded, randomized, controlled, 3 x 3 crossover design. The authors enrolled in the study 153 subjects, each of whom had a mandibular removable partial denture. Two partially demineralized human enamel specimens were mounted on each subject's removable partial denture. Subjects used either a fluoride mouthrinse with essential oils (the test mouthrinse), a fluoride nonessential oils mouthrinse (the positive control) or an essential oil nonfluoride mouthrinse (the negative control) twice daily for 14 days. The researchers assessed specimens for mineral content change and fluoride uptake using surface microhardness, or SMH, testing and enamel fluoride analysis, respectively. RESULTS: Of the 153 subjects enrolled in the study, 125 subjects were evaluable at the study endpoint. The results after two weeks showed that percentage of SMH recovery was 42 percent in the test group, 36 percent in the positive control group and 16 percent in the negative control group. The fluoride uptake was 19 micrograms per square centimeter, 16 microg/cm2 and 3 microg/cm2 for the test mouthrinse, positive control and negative control groups, respectively. In terms of both percentage of SMH and fluoride uptake, the test mouthrinse and positive control mouthrinse were statistically higher than the negative control mouthrinse, and the test mouthrinse was "at least as good as" the positive control mouthrinse. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that an essential oil mouthrinse with 100 parts per million fluoride is effective in promoting enamel remineralization and fluoride uptake. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The combination of fluoride and essential oils in a mouthrinse may provide anticaries efficacy, in addition to essential oils' previously established antigingivitis efficacy.

PMID: 15005441 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

The efficacy of an essential oil antiseptic mouthrinse vs. dental floss in controlling interproximal gingivitis: a comparative study.

J Am Dent Assoc. 2003 Mar;134(3):359-65

Authors: Bauroth K, Charles CH, Mankodi SM, Simmons K, Zhao Q, Kumar LD

BACKGROUND: The use of dental floss has long been considered to be effective in controlling interproximal plaque and gingivitis. The authors compared this method with that of use of a mouthrinse. METHODS: Subjects with mild-to-moderate gingivitis enrolled in a long-term, six-month study. They received a dental prophylaxis and were randomized into one of the three following treatment groups: brushing and rinsing with an essential oil-containing mouthrinse (the BEO group), brushing and flossing (the BF group) and brushing and rinsing with a control rinse (the B group). RESULTS: A total of 326 subjects were evaluated. The BEO and BF had significantly lower (P < .001) mean interproximal Modified Gingival Index, or MGI, scores than did the B group at six months. The BEO group had lower mean interproximal Plaque Index, or PI, scores than the other two groups at both three and six months. The BF group's mean PI score was significantly lower than the B group's mean score at six months only. The magnitude of reductions for the BEO and the BF groups (vs. the B group) in MGI were 11.1 percent and 4.3 percent and for PI were 20.0 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In conjunction with professional care (prophylaxis) and toothbrushing over six months, rinsing twice daily with an essential oil-containing mouthrinse was at least as good as flossing daily in reducing interproximal plaque and gingivitis. Clinical Implications. When weighing recommendations for oral hygiene home care, clinicians should consider that an essential oil-containing mouthrinse may be a useful adjunct in patients with gingival inflammation.

PMID: 12699051 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Using chemomechanically assisted diamond bur cutting for improved efficiency.

J Am Dent Assoc. 2003 Jan;134(1):53-8; quiz 118

Authors: von Fraunhofer JA, Siegel SC

BACKGROUND: Surface active agents added to handpiece coolants enhance bur cutting rates, or CRs, through chemomechanical effects, or CMEs. The authors evaluate the effect of CMEs on long-term cutting by diamond burs. METHODS: The authors tested medium-grit diamonds in a high-speed handpiece under a 147.5-gram load at 350,000 revolutions per minute, with 22 milliliters per minute coolant flow consisting of distilled water or a 1:10 mouthwash/water mixture. Repeated 6-millimeter-long edge cuts were made through machinable glass ceramic bars until the CR (determined as the time to transect the bars) had decreased by more than 75 percent. The authors used six burs for each coolant and analyzed the data via one-way analysis of variance with post hoc Scheff&#xE9; tests. RESULTS: CRs with water irrigation continuously decreased with the number of cuts and declined by 87 percent over eight cuts. The authors found faster CRs with CMEs; after 12 cuts, the CR was still close to 40 percent of the initial CR, compared with only 13 percent of the initial CR for water irrigation after eight cuts. These differences between CME-enhanced CRs and those found with water irrigation were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Diluted alcohol- and glycerol-based mouthwash/water mixtures significantly enhanced the CRs of diamond burs and prolonged their service life by more than 50 percent compared with water irrigation alone. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Dentists can increase bur CRs and extend bur cutting life by as much as 200 percent through the addition of diluted alcohol and glycerol mouthwash to the handpiece coolant.

PMID: 12555957 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Effectiveness of 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse in reducing prevalence of nosocomial pneumonia in patients undergoing heart surgery.

Am J Crit Care. 2002 Nov;11(6):567-70

Authors: Houston S, Hougland P, Anderson JJ, LaRocco M, Kennedy V, Gentry LO

BACKGROUND: Decreasing the levels of bacteria in the oropharynx should reduce the prevalence of nosocomial pneumonia. OBJECTIVES: To test the effectiveness of 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse in decreasing microbial colonization of the respiratory tract and nosocomial pneumonia in patients undergoing open heart surgery. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, case-controlled clinical trial design was used. Peridex (0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate) was the experimental drug, and Listerine (phenolic mixture) was the control drug. A total of 561 patients undergoing aortocoronary bypass or valve surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass were randomized to an experimental (n = 270) or a control (n = 291) group. Nosocomial pneumonia was diagnosed by using the criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RESULTS: The overall rate of nosocomial pneumonia was reduced by 52% (4/270 vs 9/291; P = .21) in the Peridex-treated patients. Among patients intubated for more than 24 hours who had cultures that showed microbial growth (all pneumonias occurred in this group), the pneumonia rate was reduced by 58% (4/19 vs 9/18; P = .06) in patients treated with Peridex. In patients at highest risk for pneumonia (intubated > 24 hours, with cultures showing the most growth), the rate was 71% lower in the Peridex group than in the Listerine group (2/10 vs 7/10; P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Although rates of nosocomial pneumonia were lower in patients treated with Peridex than in patients treated with Listerine, the difference was significant only in those patients intubated more than 24 hours who had the highest degree of bacterial colonization.

PMID: 12425407 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

No wash-over.

Br Dent J. 2001 Aug 11;191(3):116

Authors: Greer P

PMID: 11523874 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Comparative efficacy of an antiseptic mouthrinse and an antiplaque/antigingivitis dentifrice. A six-month clinical trial.

J Am Dent Assoc. 2001 May;132(5):670-5

Authors: Charles CH, Sharma NC, Galustians HJ, Qaqish J, McGuire JA, Vincent JW

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of an essential oil-containing antiseptic mouthrinse (Listerine Antiseptic, Pfizer) and an antiplaque/antigingivitis dentifrice (Colgate Total, Colgate-Palmolive) has been demonstrated in numerous double-blind clinical studies. This study was conducted to determine their comparative efficacy. METHODS: Three hundred sixteen subjects with mild-to-moderate gingival inflammation and plaque received a dental prophylaxis and began their randomly assigned brushing and rinsing regimen in an unsupervised setting. Subjects brushed for one minute and rinsed with 20 milliliters for 30 seconds twice daily for six months. The three groups were L (control toothpaste/Listerine rinse), T (Colgate Total toothpaste/control rinse) and P (control toothpaste/control rinse). RESULTS: Subjects in the L and T groups demonstrated statistically significantly lower (P < .001) Modified Gingival Index, or MGI; Bleeding Index, or BI; and Plaque Index, or PI, at both three and six months than subjects in the P group. The magnitude of reduction for the L group was 22.9 percent, 70 percent and 56.1 percent, respectively, and for the T group, 20.8 percent, 58 percent and 22.1 percent, respectively. Subjects in the L group were not different from subjects in the T group in regard to visual signs of gingivitis (MGI), but were more effective (P < .001) than subjects in the T group in experiencing reduced BI and PI. No product-related adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: Although the Listerine Antiseptic and Colgate Total antiplaque/antigingivitis products produced similar, clinically significant reductions in gingivitis (as measured by MGI and BI), Listerine, when used in conjunction with a fluoride dentifrice and usual oral hygiene, provided a greater benefit in reducing plaque. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: When considering an antiplaque/antigingivitis product to recommend to patients, clinicians should consider Listerine Antiseptic, in conjunction with usual oral hygiene, if more rigorous plaque control is desired.

PMID: 11367972 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Anticalculus efficacy of an antiseptic mouthrinse containing zinc chloride.

J Am Dent Assoc. 2001 Jan;132(1):94-8

Authors: Charles CH, Cronin MJ, Conforti NJ, Dembling WZ, Petrone DM, McGuire JA

BACKGROUND: The authors undertook a controlled clinical study to determine the efficacy of a tartar-control antiseptic mouthrinse in inhibiting the development of supragingival dental calculus. METHODS: After undergoing a dental prophylaxis, 334 subjects with a moderate rate of calculus formation were stratified and randomly assigned to one of three groups: positive control (using a tartar-control toothpaste and an antiseptic rinse), negative control (using a regular toothpaste and an antiseptic mouthrinse) or experimental (using a regular dentifrice and a tartar-control mouthrinse). Subjects brushed and rinsed twice daily, unsupervised, for four months. The researchers assessed subjects' calculus levels using the Volpe-Manhold Index, or VMI, after 16 weeks. RESULTS: Using analysis of covariance, the authors found that both the experimental group (which used a tartar-control rinse containing zinc chloride) and the positive control group (which used a tartar-control dentifrice containing pyrophosphate) demonstrated statistically significantly lower VMI scores (P = .001) than the negative control group (which used a regular dentifrice and an antiseptic rinse). Both anticalculus agents provided a clinically relevant 21 percent reduction in calculus formation. CONCLUSION: An antiseptic mouthrinse containing 0.09 percent zinc chloride as the anticalculus agent provides a clinically relevant reduction in calculus formation in people with a moderate rate of such formation. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: A tartar-control mouthrinse with zinc chloride as the tartar-control ingredient is clinically effective in reducing the formation of calculus.

PMID: 11194406 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

A new approach to at-home oral irrigation.

J Am Dent Assoc. 1997 Jun;128(6):755

Authors: Venneri AJ

PMID: 9188234 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Assessing pre-procedural subgingival irrigation and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthrinse to reduce bacteremia.

J Am Dent Assoc. 1996 May;127(5):641-2, 645-6

Authors: Fine DH, Korik I, Furgang D, Myers R, Olshan A, Barnett ML, Vincent J

In this controlled clinical study, the authors examined the effect of subgingival irrigation and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthrinse before ultrasonic scaling of a quadrant containing inflamed gingivae. The results showed that pre-procedural subgingival irrigation and rinsing can significantly reduce the level of bacteremia associated with ultrasonic scaling. These results support the American Heart Association's recommendation of adjunctive subgingival irrigation prior to invasive procedures in patients at risk of developing bacterial endocarditis.

PMID: 8642144 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Reducing bacterial aerosol contamination with a chlorhexidine gluconate pre-rinse.

J Am Dent Assoc. 1995 Dec;126(12):1634-9

Authors: Logothetis DD, Martinez-Welles JM

The authors compared the effects of chlorhexidine gluconate, an antiseptic mouthwash with essential oils and water on the bacterial aerosol contamination generated by an air polishing device. Patients rinsed with one of the three solutions before treatment. Bacterial counts collected during the treatment indicate that the chlorhexidine pretreatment rinse was significantly more effective than the other solutions in reducing bacterial aerosols.

PMID: 7499664 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Mouthrinses.

Adv Dent Res. 1994 Jul;8(2):291-301

Authors: Adams D, Addy M

Mouthrinses have been used for centuries for medicinal and cosmetic purposes, but it is only in recent years that the rationale behind the use of the ingredients has been subject to scientific research and clinical trials. Although Listerine held its position for many years in the vanguard of the anti-plaque agents, the advent of mouthrinses containing chlorhexidine was a major breakthrough in the research for a chemical means to prevent disease. Since that time, and especially in the past ten years, the number of formulations that claim to have anti-plaque, anti-calculus, and anti-caries activity has increased, and much emphasis has been placed on such substances as an adjunct to, or indeed to replace, conventional toothbrushing techniques. This review covers the literature on mouthrinses over the past five years, concentrating more on the anti-plaque, anti-gingivitis, and anti-calculus formulations. In the first section, the methods of conducting clinical trials of mouthrinses are discussed, and a plea is made for a greater degree of standardization of methodology with agreed acceptable levels of clinical benefit. Trials of established mouthrinses are considered, and the advantages and disadvantages of several newer formulations discussed. From the review, it appears that chlorhexidine has no equal in its effects on reduction of plaque and gingivitis, but major drawbacks lie in the taste and stain-producing problems. The pre-brushing rinse, Plax, does not have unqualified success in all trials, though the more recent European formulation may have promise. Newer rinses which inhibit bacterial adhesion to tooth surfaces also appear promising, and it is suggested that more work on combinations of active ingredients is necessary.

PMID: 7865089 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Comparative study of inactivation of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 by commonly used antiseptic agents.

J Clin Microbiol. 1988 Feb;26(2):213-5

Authors: Croughan WS, Behbehani AM

A comparative study of the different reactions of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 to Lysol, Listerine, bleach, rubbing alcohol, Alcide disinfectant (Alcide Corp., Westport, Conn.), and various pHs, temperatures, and UV light exposures was performed. Both types of stock virus (titers of approximately 10(6) and 10(5.5) for types 1 and 2, respectively) were inactivated by 0.5% Lysol in 5 min; by Listerine (1:1 mixtures) in 5 min; by 2,000 ppm (2,000 microliters/liter) of bleach in 10 min; by rubbing alcohol (1:1 mixtures) at zero time; by Alcide disinfectant (0.2 ml of virus plus 2.0 ml of Alcide) at zero time; by pHs 3, 5, and 11 in 10 min; and by a temperature of 56 degrees C in 30 min. A germicidal lamp (model G30TB; General Electric Co., Schenectady, N.Y.) (30 W) at a distance of 48 cm failed to completely inactivate the two types in 15 min. Type 1 showed slightly more resistance to Listerine and bleach and significantly more resistance to heat; moreover, pH 9 did not affect the infectivity of either type after 10 min.

PMID: 2830306 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]