Antiplaque effect of essential oils and 0.2% chlorhexidine on an in situ model of oral biofilm growth: a randomised clinical trial.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the in situ antiplaque effect after 4 days of using of 2 commercial antimicrobial agents in short term on undisturbed plaque-like biofilm.

TRIAL DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS:

An observer-masked, crossover randomised clinical trial on 15 oral and systemically healthy volunteers between 20-30 years who were randomly and sequentially allocated in the same group which performed 3 interventions in different randomised sequences.

INTERVENTION:

The participants wore an appliance in 3 different rinsing periods doing mouthwashes twice a day (1/0/1) with essential oils, 0.2% chlorhexidine or sterile water (negative control). At the end of each 4-day mouthwash period, samples were removed from the appliance. Posteriorly, after bacterial vital staining, samples were analysed using a Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Bacterial vitality, thickness and covering grade by the biofilm after 4 days of applying each of the mouthwashes.

RESULTS:

The essential oils and the 0.2% chlorhexidine were significantly more effective than the sterile water at reducing bacterial vitality, thickness and covering grade by the biofilm. No significant differences were found between the 0.2% chlorhexidine and the essential oils at reducing the bacterial vitality (13.2% vs. 14.7%). However, the 0.2% chlorhexidine showed more reduction than the essential oils in thickness (6.5 μm vs. 10.0 μm; p<0.05) and covering grade by the biofilm (20.0% vs. 54.3%; p<0.001).

CONCLUSION:

The essential oils and 0.2% chlorhexidine showed a high antiplaque effect. Although the 0.2% chlorhexidine showed better results with regard to reducing the thickness and covering grade by the biofilm, both antiseptics showed a high and similar antibacterial activity.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE:

Daily essential oils or 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwashes are effective when reducing dental plaque formation in the short term. Although 0.2% chlorhexidine continues to be the "gold standard" in terms of antiplaque effect, essential oils could be considered a reliable alternative.

TRIAL REGISTRATION:

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02124655.

• Authors: Víctor Quintas, Isabel Prada-López, Nikolaos Donos, David Suárez-Quintanilla, Inmaculada Tomás
• Journal: PloS one (PLoS One) Vol. 10 Issue 2 Pg. e0117177 ( 2015) ISSN: 1932-6203 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25689859 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Infective Agents, Local
• Mouthwashes
• Oils, Volatile
• Chlorhexidine

Topics

• Adult
• Anti-Infective Agents, Local (pharmacology)
• Biofilms (drug effects, growth & development)
• Chlorhexidine (pharmacology)
• Cross-Over Studies
• Dental Plaque (microbiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Microbial Viability (drug effects)
• Mouthwashes (pharmacology)
• Oils, Volatile (pharmacology)
• Time Factors