Comparison of the Clinical and Microbiological Effects of CHX and HOCl Containing Mouthwashes

The primary objective of the current clinical study is to compare the antiplaque and anti-inflammatory efficacy of HOCl mouth rinse with that of CHX mouth rinse. The secondary objective is to compare the antimicrobial activities of these two mouth rinses on dental biofilm. This single-center, triple-blind, randomized controlled crossover study was completed with 26 participants. In the study, the same participants used both HOCl (0.02%) and CHX (0.2%) mouth rinses over a 4-day re-plaque formation model. Following each mouth rinse usage, supragingival dental plaque biofilm samples were collected, and clinical parameters including the Modified Plaque Index, Bleeding on Probing Index, and Modified Stain Index were recorded. Additionally, participants were asked to evaluate the mouth rinses they used via a questionnaire. In conclusion, HOCl mouth rinse has demonstrated antiplaque efficacy comparable to that of CHX mouth rinse. When evaluating total bacterial counts, both mouth rinses exhibited similar antimicrobial effectiveness. Within the limitations of this study, HOCl may be considered a promising antimicrobial agent for dental plaque control.