Journal Article Library

Review the Abstracts. Read the Articles.

The following is a list of recent scientific information related to oral health including: the current guidelines, the reduction of plaque and gingivitis, the antimicrobial activity of ADA-Accepted mouthrinses, and more. The information presented here is intended to help you better understand the recent findings in oral health allowing you to better communicate with your patients.

The data show that brushing, flossing, and rinsing daily with LISTERINE^® and REACH^® Products can help your patients achieve healthier mouths.^1,2

This section will be continually updated with the latest information so bookmark this page and check back often.

Topics

• Oral Care Guidelines
• Plaque and Gingivitis Reduction
• Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Activity of Mouthrinses
• Ability of Mouthrinses to Kill Germs for 12 hour Plaque and Gingivitis Protection
• Do Not Disturb: Effect of Mouthrinses on Maintaining the Balance of Oral Flora
• Alcohol-Containing Mouthrinses Are Not Associated With Oral Cancer Risk
• Alcohol-Containing Mouthrinses Are Not Associated With Dry Mouth Risk

Oral Care Guidelines

ADA Advice on Brushing, Flossing, and Rinsing
The ADA wants your patients to know about the oral health benefits of brushing, flossing, and rinsing. The ADA supplements its recommendations with the message that the use of ADA-Accepted antimicrobial mouthrinse helps prevent and reduce plaque and gingivitis. The long-standing ADA recommendations for good oral hygiene include brushing, flossing, a healthy diet and visiting the dentist.

Antimicrobial Mouthrinses as Part of Daily Oral Care
This Special Supplement to the JADA^® November 2007 Issue offers a comprehensive compilation of scientific information showing the value of brushing, flossing, and rinsing with an antimicrobial mouthrinse as an essential daily routine, versus brushing and flossing alone.

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Plaque and Gingivitis Reduction

Managing the complexity of a dynamic biofilm
Thomas JG et al. (2006)
Although biofilms cannot be eliminated, the pathogenic nature of plaque biofilm can be diminished by maintaining a normal oral flora through oral hygiene procedures that include daily toothbrushing, flossing, and rinsing with an antimicrobial mouthrinse.

The Rationale for the Daily Use of an Antimicrobial Mouthrinse
Barnett ML (2006)
In this review article, the author finds that incorporating effective antimicrobial mouthrinses into a daily oral hygiene regimen to control plaque biofilm is well-supported by scientific rationale. The two key aspects were the essential role of adequate plaque control in the prevention of periodontal diseases and findings that antimicrobial activity can have a significant impact on supra- and subgingival bacterial colonization of teeth. A review of 12 published 6-month plaque/gingivitis clinical trials—7 of which studied LISTERINE^® Antiseptic essential oil-containing mouthrinses—is included.

Adjunctive Benefit of an Essential Oil-Containing Mouthrinse in Reducing Plaque and Gingivitis in Patients Who Brush and Floss Regularly: A Six-Month Study
Sharma N et al. (2004)
This long-term study showed that even for those who brush and floss, the addition of LISTERINE^® Antiseptic provides a 52% greater plaque reduction and a 21% greater gingivitis reduction versus brushing and flossing alone.

Comparative Effects of 2 Chemotherapeutic Mouthrinses on the Development of Supragingival Dental Plaque and Gingivitis
Overholster CD et al. (1990)
The objective was to determine the efficacy and safety of LISTERINE^® Antiseptic and Peridex^® in helping to control supragingival plaque and gingivitis when used as an adjunct to normal oral hygiene routine and regular professional care.

Chemotherapeutic Inhibition of Supragingival Dental Plaque and Gingivitis Development
DePaola LG et al. (1989)
At 6 months, LISTERINE^® Antiseptic, as an adjunct to regular oral hygiene, significantly inhibited the development of both plaque and gingivitis by 34% compared with the control rinse. There was no increase in extrinsic tooth staining.

Comparative Efficacy of an Antiseptic Mouthrinse and an Antiplaque/Antigingivitis Dentifrice: A Six-Month Clinical Trial
Charles CH et al. (2001)
This study showed that the LISTERINE^® Antiseptic regimen was significantly more effective in reducing the bleeding index (p=0.033) and the plaque index (p< 0.001) than the Colgate^® regimen, with no difference in reducing the gingivitis index.

Efficacy of LISTERINE^® Antiseptic in Inhibiting the Development of Plaque and Gingivitis
Gordon JM et al. (1985)
The LISTERINE^® Antiseptic group had significantly lower plaque scores and gingivitis was reduced significantly (by 22.1%) compared with the vehicle control group at the conclusion of the 9-month study.

Comparative Antiplaque and Antigingivitis Effectiveness of a Chlorhexidine and an Essential Oil Mouthrinse: 6-Month Clinical Trial
Charles CH et al. (2004)
The results show that, at 6 months, LISTERINE^® Antiseptic and Peridex^® had comparable antiplaque and antigingivitis activity. Also, importantly, subjects receiving Peridex^® had significantly more extrinsic tooth stain and calculus formation than subjects receiving LISTERINE^® Antiseptic.

The Effect of LISTERINE^® Antiseptic on Reduction of Existing Plaque and Gingivitis
Lamster IB et al. (1983)
The LISTERINE^® Antiseptic group had a 20.8% reduction in plaque scores and a 27.7% reduction in gingivitis scores compared with the vehicle control group at 6 months.

The Effect of an Antiseptic Mouthrinse on Implant Maintenance: Plaque and Peri-implant Gingival Tissues
Ciancio SG et al. (1995)
The authors concluded that twice-daily rinsing with LISTERINE^® Antiseptic, used as an adjunct to routine mechanical oral hygiene, is effective in reducing plaque and improving the gingival health of peri-implant tissues.

The Long-Term Effect of a Mouthrinse Containing Essential Oils on Dental Plaque and Gingivitis: A Systematic Review
Stoeken JE et al. (2007)
This review of 11 different studies in which LISTERINE^® Antiseptic was used as an adjunct to regular daily toothbrushing showed that it provides an additional benefit with regard to plaque and gingivitis reduction as compared to placebo or control.

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Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Activity of Mouthrinses

Effect of an Essential Oil-Containing Antiseptic Mouthrinse on Plaque and Salivary Streptococcus Mutans Levels
Fine DH et al. (2000)
LISTERINE^® Antiseptic can significantly reduce the level of oral S. mutans. This provides further evidence for in situ bactericidal activity, as well as, an additional rationale for its daily use as an adjunct to mechanical oral hygiene regimens.

In Vivo Antimicrobial Activity of an Essential Oil-Containing Mouthrinse on Interproximal Plaque Bacteria
Charles CH et al. (2000)
This study suggests that the clinical effectiveness of the essential oil mouthrinse LISTERINE^® Antiseptic against plaque and gingivitis may be attributable to the rapid kill and plaque permeabilizing properties of the formulation.

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Ability of Mouthrinses to Kill Germs for 12 Hour Plaque and Gingivitis Protection

In Vivo Antimicrobial Effectiveness of an Essential Oil-Containing Mouth Rinse 12 H After a Single Use and 14 Days' Use
Fine DH et al. (2005)
Two studies-a daytime study and an overnight study-were undertaken to measure the antimicrobial efficacy of LISTERINE^® Antiseptic 12 hours after a single rinse and 12 hours after 2 weeks of twice daily rinsing. LISTERINE^® Antiseptic demonstrated effectiveness in reducing supragingival plaque and gingivitis as well as in controlling intrinsic oral malodor over prolonged periods.

Determination of the In Situ Bactericidal Activity of an Essential Oil Mouthrinse Using a Vital Stain Method
Pan P et al. (2000)
In summary, this study has demonstrated that rinsing with LISTERINE^® Antiseptic has significant bactericidal activity against supragingival plaque bacteria in situ.

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Do Not Disturb: Effect of Mouthrinses on Maintaining the Balance of Oral Flora

Evaluation of Microbial Shifts in Supragingival Plaque Following Long-Term Use of an Oral Antiseptic Mouthrinse
Walker C et al. (1989)
The authors conclude that long-term use of LISTERINE^® Antiseptic results in a decrease in total supragingival plaque and does not produce a shift in the microbial composition of this plaque that would be detrimental to oral health.

Effects of 6 Months Use of an Antiseptic Mouthrinse on Supragingival Dental Plaque Microflora
Minah GE et al. (1989)
At 6 months, the LISTERINE^® Antiseptic group revealed no alteration in the proportions of microbial species present in supragingival plaque and no resistant bacterial forms.

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Alcohol-Containing Mouthrinses Are Not Associated With Oral Cancer Risk

Use of Alcohol-Containing Rinses to Reduce Oral Microbial Burden: Safety and Efficacy
Iacopino AM (2009)
This review article discusses the scientific flaws in experimental design and data interpretation of 3 recent publications that allege a relationship between alcohol-containing mouthrinses and oral cancer. These studies are contrasted to an FDA investigation and an evaluation of epidemiologic literature over a 25-year period--rigorously designed studies with large numbers of patients--both of which found no relationship.

Alcohol-Containing Mouthwash and Oropharyngeal Cancer: A Review of the Epidemiology
Cole P et al. (2003)
The weight of evidence strongly suggests that professionals may recommend to their patients that they use the mouthwashes of their choice, including those that contain alcohol.

Oral Cancer and Mouthwash Use: Evaluation of the Epidemiologic Evidence
Elmore JG, Horwitz RI (1995)
The authors conclude that a rigorous methodologic review and analysis of the available evidence does not support a causal association between mouthwash use and risk of oral cancer.

Federal Register (May 2003 Issue)
The Federal Register, published by the Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration, is the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of U.S. federal agencies and organizations. Its Subcommittee concludes that the available data do not support a causal relationship between the use of alcohol–containing mouthrinses like LISTERINE^® Antiseptic and oral cancer. The vote was unanimous.

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Alcohol-Containing Mouthrinses Are Not Associated With Dry Mouth Risk

Use of Essential Oil-Containing Mouthrinses by Xerostomic Individuals: Determination of Potential for Oral Mucosal Irritation
Fischman SL et al. (2004)
This study in extremely xerostomic patients indicates that the essential oil mouthrinse LISTERINE^® Antiseptic can be safely recommended to such individuals in view of its minimal potential for oral mucosal irritation.

A comparison of the effects of 2 commercially available nonprescription mouthrinses on salivary flow rates and xerostomia
Kerr AR et al. (2007)
This crossover study of healthy subjects with normal salivary rates showed no difference in objective and subjective measures of mouth dryness between alcohol- and nonalcohol-containing mouthrinses (LISTERINE^® Antiseptic compared with ACT^®).

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