Meta-analysis of the effect of an essential oil-containing mouthrinse on gingivitis and plaque

A meta-analysis of 29 long-term clinical trials was conducted to study the adjunctive use of mouthrinses containing essential oil in achieving gingival health and relative to mechanical oral hygiene alone.

The clinically relevant benefit of EO mouthrinses was determined by the percentage of plaque-free tooth surfaces and gingival sites in trials of a minimum duration of 6 months. The daily use of antiplaque/antigingivitic mouthrinses is rationalized as an adjunctive component to mechanical oral hygiene regimens for the control and prevention of plaque, gingivitis, and dental caries, and as a vehicle of delivering antimicrobial agents to mucosal sites throughout the oral cavity to combat pathogenic bacteria.