The effect of different mouth rinse products on intra-oral halitosis.

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of different mouth rinses 12h after rinsing on genuine intra-oral halitosis. Twenty-four adults with halitosis were included in a double-blind, crossover, randomized clinical trial. Halitosis was evaluated 12h after rinsing with placebo and five mouth rinse products containing zinc acetate and chlorhexidine diacetate; zinc lactate, chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride; zinc acetate and chlorhexidine diacetate with reduced amounts of mint and menthol; zinc chloride and essential oil; and chlorine dioxide using the organoleptic method and a gas chromatograph. Test periods were separated by 1week. Hydrogen sulphide (H2 S), methyl mercaptan (MM) and the organoleptic scores (OLS) were significantly reduced 12h following rinsing with all substances compared to placebo (P<0.05). H2 S was more effectively reduced after rinsing with zinc acetate and chlorhexidine diacetate and zinc acetate and chlorhexidine diacetate with reduced amounts of mint and menthol compared to rinsing with zinc chloride and essential oil (P<0.05), and significantly lower values of MM were obtained after rinsing with zinc acetate and chlorhexidine diacetate compared to zinc lactate, chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride (P<0.05). The percentage effectively treated individuals (H2 S (<112ppb), MM (<26ppb) and OLS score <2) varied from 58% percentage (zinc acetate and chlorhexidine diacetate) to 26% (zinc chloride and essential oil). All treatments resulted in reduction in halitosis 12h after rinsing compared to placebo. H2 S and MM were most effectively reduced by zinc acetate and chlorhexidine diacetate.