Chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) mouthwash is effective for reducing plaque and gingivitis, but one of its side effects is extrinsic tooth staining. Oxygenating agents may reduce this staining. A review systematically searched the literature for data concerning the inhibiting effect of an oxygenating agent (OA) on CHX-induced tooth staining. Electronic databases were searched for articles including randomized controlled trials or controlled clinical trials conducted with healthy subjects aged 16 years that compared the effects of CHX mouthrinse combined with an OA with the effects of CHX alone. An independent screening of 1,183 titles and abstracts resulted in 4 publications that met the inclusion criteria. The extracted data allowed meta-analyses of intermediate length studies and showed that combining an OA with CHX mouthrinses led to a significant reduction in tooth staining and plaque scores when compared with CHX alone. The review was limited by the data availability, and included methodologically and clinically heterogeneous studies, which affected the quality and interpretation of the evidence. The authors conclude that there is moderate evidence that a combination of CHX and an oxygenating agent reduces tooth staining without interfering with plaque growth inhibition.
(Source: van Maanen-Schakel et al. International Journal of Dental Hygiene, August 2012, Volume 10, Issue 3)
