A six-month clinical study of the effect of a pre-brush rinse on plaque removal and gingivitis.

The effect of a pre-brush rinse (Colgate Plax, Colgate UK) containing 0.03% triclosan (Irgacare MP, Ciba-Geigy Corp.) and 0.125% of a copolymer of methoxyethylene and maleic acid (Gantrez, ISP Corp.) on existing plaque and gingivitis over a 6-month period was compared to a matching placebo pre-brush rinse. The study was a double-blind, parallel design utilising 125 subjects, 117 of whom completed the 6-month period. Subjects rinsed twice daily for 60 seconds with 15 ml of their assigned pre-brush rinse. Immediately after rinsing, subjects brushed their teeth for 30 seconds with a fluoride dentifrice and a soft-bristled toothbrush. After 3 and 6 months, the levels of plaque and gingivitis were significantly lower in the triclosan/copolymer rinse group when compared with the placebo rinse group. The beneficial effects of the active rinse were particularly evident on the surfaces of teeth which are poorly cleaned by mechanical procedures. No side effects, such as staining, were observed or reported. The results indicate that the twice daily use of a pre-brush rinse containing triclosan and copolymer can provide significant adjunctive benefits to mechanical oral hygiene procedures.