Clinical Efficacy of Supervised Oral Care Regimens, Including Mouthrinse and Interdental Brush Use, on Plaque and Gingivitis: A 24-Week Phase 4 Randomised Controlled Trial

Aim:
To evaluate the clinical efficacy of oral care regimens combining toothbrushing with interdental brush (IDB) use and/or essential oil-containing mouthrinses (with/without alcohol), versus brushing only, in reducing plaque and gingivitis.

Materials and Methods:
In this 24-week, examiner-blind, single centre, randomised controlled trial, 291 participants with gingivitis were assigned to one of five supervised regimens: brush only (BO); brush plus LISTERINE® COOL MINT® ZERO Alcohol mouthrinse (B+LZ); IDB then brush (B+IDB); IDB, brush, rinse with LISTERINE® COOL MINT® Antiseptic mouthrinse (B+IDB+LCM); or IDB, brush, rinse with LISTERINE® COOL MINT® ZERO Alcohol mouthrinse (B+IDB+LZ).

Results:
All three mouthrinse groups showed statistically significant reductions in interproximal Turesky Plaque Index (TPI) and Modified Gingival Index (MGI) versus the BO group at 24 weeks (TPI: 18.0%, 26.8% and 15.8% for B+LZ, B+IDB+LCM and B+IDB+LZ, respectively; MGI: 37.9%, 46.0% and 43.4% for B+LZ, B+IDB+LCM and B+IDB+LZ, respectively; all p<0.001 vs BO). Interproximal TPI and MGI at 24 weeks were similar in the B+IDB and BO groups. Benefits of IDB use were seen in secondary endpoints (bleeding, probing pocket depths).

Conclusions:
Adjunctive use of IDB and essential oil-containing mouthrinses significantly improved gingival health versus brushing only. Three-part mechanical and chemotherapeutic approaches provided most clinical benefit.