Author(s): William Z Levine, Noah Samuels and Ray C Williams
Background and Purpose: Current approaches for controlling dental plaque are limited by technical difficulties and side effects (e.g., staining, ulceration). PeriActive mouth rinse (Izun Pharmaceuticals Corporation, New York, NY) contains botanical compounds with anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and tissue reparatory properties. This study examined the effect of the PeriActive rinse on plaque formation and gingival inflammation in an experimental gingivitis model.
Methods: Healthy volunteers with mild-to-moderate gingivitis were randomized and blinded to either PeriActive or a color/taste-matched water-only rinse. Treatment was self-administered t.i.d. for two weeks, during which participants abstained from any oral hygiene practice (brushing, flossing, etc.). Gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), and number of bleeding sites (as determined by bleeding-upon-probing) were measured at baseline, and again at the end of the study period.
Results: A total of 54 participants completed the full study protocol (PeriActive, n=23; water-only controls, n=31). GI values increased (i.e., worsened) more significantly among water-only controls when compared to the PeriActive treatment group (p<0.001 vs. p=0.182; between-group Δ progression, p=0.004), as did PI scores (p<0.001 vs. p=0.005; between-group Δ progression, p=0.002) and number of bleeding sites (p=0.001 vs. p=0.304; betweengroup Δ progression, p=0.001). No significant adverse effects were reported in either group.
Conclusions: PeriActive mouth rinse is a safe and effective anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory rinse, which significantly reduces the progression of gingivitis and dental plaque formation and the number of spontaneous bleeding sites in an experimental gingivitis model. Further research is needed in order to confirm and extend these findings.
