CAN USING A MOUTHRINSE HELP PREVENT AND TREAT GUM DISEASE?

The answer is yes. And here’s the proof.

A KEY ANALYSIS CONCLUSIVELY DEMONSTRATES THE BENEFITS OF RINSING IN THE FIGHT AGAINST GINGIVITIS.

Oral disease has truly become a global burden. In fact, you may be astonished to learn that chronic gingivitis affects over 90% of the world’s population to some degree. And it’s prevalent at all ages.1 In addition, severe periodontitis is now the 6th-most–prevalent oral disease in the world,2 affecting between 5-20% of all adults.3

Infographic showing severe periodontitis as 6th most prevalent oral disease worldwide

Clearly, even with the great strides made in oral healthcare over the years, there is still a great need for vigilance when caring for patients with or at risk for periodontal disease. That’s why the LISTERINE® Brand has continually innovated oral healthcare products to address this major issue. In fact, a recent study and analysis has conclusively shown that adding a rinse like LISTERINE® Antiseptic to a regimen of brushing and flossing is a key component to making this step change happen.

So where’s the proof?

One of the biggest reasons you can feel confident recommending LISTERINE® products to your patients, is the robust clinical evidence behind them.

A key 6-month study, Adjunctive benefit of an essential oil-containing mouthrinse in reducing plaque and gingivitis in patients who brush and floss regularly” (Sharma et al),4 set out to determine the incremental benefit of the adjunctive use of LISTERINE® Antiseptic to a brushing and flossing routine, in inhibiting both whole-mouth plaque and gingivitis.4

This controlled, observer-blind, parallel-group clinical study of subjects with mild-to–moderate gingivitis randomized subjects into one of 3 groups: Brushing + Hydroalcohol (5%) Control Rinse (BC); Brushing + Flossing + Control (BFC); and Brushing + Flossing + LISTERINE® Antiseptic (BFEO). The study produced conclusive results:

  • Whole-mouth mean Plaque Index score at 6 months: BFEO rinse group experienced 56.3% reduction vs BC4
  • Whole-mouth mean Modified Gingival Index (MGI) score at 6 months: BFEO rinse group experienced 29.9% reduction vs BC4

Chart showing reduction of plaque & gingivitis through use of LISTERINE® Antiseptic Mouthwash

Clearly, this long-term study demonstrated conclusively that using LISTERINE® Antiseptic mouthrinse twice daily significantly improves the benefits of a recommended regimen of brushing and flossing. For more information on the study, click here.

The post hoc SITE-WISE® ANALYSIS.

This conclusive Sharma et al 2004 study4 was followed up by a post hoc analysis, also called the SITE-WISE ANALYSIS®.5  The objective of SITE-WISE ANALYSIS® was to evaluate the combined effectiveness of mechanical methods with essential oil-containing mouthrinse, such as LISTERINE® Antiseptic, vs mechanical methods alone, in achieving site-specific, healthy gingival tissue.5

Infographic showing results of modified gingival index during SITE-WISE® ANALYSIS and use of LISTERINE® Antiseptic Mouthwash

The SITE-WISE® ANALYSIS scored a maximum of 108 sites per subject for gingival health (28 teeth x 4 surfaces/tooth), using the Modified Gingival Index (MGI)—a visual, noninvasive scoring index to measure gingivitis.5

Infographic showing range of inflammation and modified gingival index

Sites were analyzed from 237 healthy subjects, each with mild-to–moderate gingivitis, who were followed for 6 months by Sharma et al.4 The mean percentage of healthy sites was calculated by taking numbers of sites with MGI scores of 0 or 1, divided by total number of sites (maximum number of sites was 108).5

Maxillary Marginal6

Chart showing Maxillary Marginal data during SITE-WISE® ANALYSIS

Maxillary Proximal6

Chart showing Maxillary Proximal data during SITE-WISE® ANALYSIS

Mandibular Marginal6

Chart showing Mandibular Marginal data during SITE-WISE® ANALYSIS

Mandibular Proximal6

Chart showing Mandibular Proximal data during SITE-WISE® ANALYSIS

The results of the post hoc SITE-WISE ANALYSIS® of the Sharma et al study data were as impressive as they were conclusive—not only confirming the benefits of adding rinse to an oral health regimen, but also showing that LISTERINE® Antiseptic provides twice as many healthy gingival sites compared to brushing and flossing alone.5  

With such strong evidence reinforcing the essentiality of rinsing in a daily oral care routine in the prevention and reduction of gingivitis, you can feel supremely confident when recommending LISTERINE® products to your patients. What’s more, these results confirm that improving oral health on a global scale is more than just possible, it’s achievable. And it all starts with you and your recommendation.

We hope you found this article of value.  

CLINICAL STUDIES.

Explore a wealth of evidence about the safety and efficacy of LISTERINE® mouthrinses.

4 ESSENTIAL OILS VIDEO.

See the science behind the germ-killing power of LISTERINE® Antiseptic, in action.

PREFERRED MEMBER PRICING ON LISTERINE® PRODUCTS.

Members are entitled to special offers and pricing on LISTERINE® products for their office.

SITE-WISE ANALYSIS™ Footnotes

*Healthy=MGI scores of 0 or 1 at 6 months.
†Plus placebo negative control rinse.
‡After 6 months of daily use.

References: 1.Coventry J, Griffiths G, Scully C, Tonetti M. Periodontal disease. BMJ. 2000;321(7252):36-39. 2. Marcenes W, Kassebaum NJ, Bernabé E, et al. Global burden of oral conditions in 1990-2010: a systematic analysis. J Dent Res. 2013;92(7):592-597. 3. BPetersen PE, Bourgeois D, Ogawa H, et al. The global burden of oral diseases and risks to oral health. Bull World Health Organ. 2005;83(9):661-669. 4. Sharma N, Charles CH, Lynch MC, et al. Adjunctive benefit of an essential oil-containing mouthrinse in reducing plaque and gingivitis in patients who brush and floss regularly: a six-month study. J Am Dent Assoc. 2004;135:496-504. 5. Data on file, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.