A 6-month clinical study assessing the safety and efficacy of two cetylpyridinium chloride mouthrinses.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of two experimental cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) mouthrinses containing 0.075% and 0.10% CPC on the development of gingivitis and plaque versus a placebo control over a period of 6 months.

Methods: This was a randomized, single center, parallel group, double blind, positive and placebo controlled clinical trial. A 0.12% chlorhexidine rinse served as the positive control for validation of the methodology. At the beginning of the trial, 366 subjects were balanced and randomly assigned to treatment groups. Subjects received a dental prophylaxis and began rinsing twice a day with 15 ml of their assigned mouthwash for 30 seconds after brushing their teeth. Subjects were assessed for gingivitis and gingival bleeding by the Löe-Silness Gingival Index method and plaque by the Turesky modification of Quigley Hein Plaque Index at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of product use. Oral soft tissue health was also assessed.

Results: After 3 and 6 months, subjects rinsing with either 0.075% or 0.10% CPC had significantly (P< 0.0001) less gingivitis, gingival bleeding, and plaque, on average, than those on placebo. The 6-month mean reductions in gingivitis, gingival bleeding, and plaque for the 0.075% and 0.10% CPC rinses versus placebo were 23%, 30% and 17%, and 20%, 27% and 19%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in efficacy between the two CPC mouthrinses. Reductions at 3 months were similar to those seen at 6 months. Significant benefits were observed with chlorhexidine, thereby validating the study.

Clinical Significance: This study clearly demonstrates that CPC mouthrinses formulated to deliver therapeutic benefits when used twice daily can significantly prevent the development of gingivitis, gingival bleeding, and plaque over a 6-month period.