Interaction between chlorhexidine and fluoride in a mouthrinse solution—a 4-day and 6-week randomized clinical pilot study

Abstract

The aim of the present investigation was to study if there is a reduced clinical effect and fluoride retention of a mouthrinse solution containing both chlorhexidine (CHX) and sodium fluoride (NaF). Two clinical trials were designed as double-blind, randomized, cross-over studies. In study I, 16 healthy subjects were asked to rinse twice daily for 1min during 4days of no tooth brushing with four solutions: (1) 0.12% CHX+0.2% NaF, (2) 0.2% NaF, (3) 0.12% CHX, and (4) placebo. In study II, another 16 healthy subjects rinsed with the same four solutions twice daily after tooth brushing during a 6-week period. Plaque formation, gingivitis, and microbiological samples from plaque and saliva, as well as fluoride retention, were analyzed. Both studies showed that both CHX+NaF and CHX mouthrinses had the same clinical effect with regards to plaque formation and microflora in plaque and saliva. Similarly, fluoride retention was not altered by the CHX+NaF mouthrinse compared to the NaF solution. The combination of CHX and NaF in a mouthrinse showed the same clinical effect as the CHX solution. The retention of fluoride in the oral cavity was not affected by the combination of NaF and CHX. A mouthrinse solution containing a mixture of CHX and NaF may be an interesting product for risk patients for caries and periodontal disease. However, this should be verified in further long-term clinical studies.