ABSTRACT
Objectives@#This study investigated the effects of mouthwashes containing cetylpyridinium chloride and zinc acetate on oral health. @*Methods@#A total of 60 participants were included in the study. Fifty-three participants (27 and 26 participants in the experimental and control groups, respectively) were retained, excluding seven candidates who dropped out. The mouthwash used for the study was spat out after 10-15 ml of mouth-washing for 3 s in the oral cavity after breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Oral examination indices included the gingival (gingival index, PMA index), the patient hygiene performance (PHP index, Turesky plaque index), and the bad breath (BB checker, Oral chroma) indices. Five measurements were taken after 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 weeks and compared. @*Results@#Measurements of the gingival index showed a statistically significant difference between the experimental and the control groups after 4 weeks, and the PMA index from eight weeks (P<0.05). Measurements of the PHP and Turesky plaque indices showed a significant difference in the experimental and control groups after 4 weeks (P<0.05). Compared to the PHP index before the experiment, that of the experimental group showed a significant index decrease after 2 weeks (P<0.05). Results of measuring bad breath through a BB checker showed a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups after 4 weeks (P<0.05). @*Conclusions@#Oral mouthwash products containing cetylpyridinium chloride and zinc acetate relieves gingivitis, removes bacterial plaque, and reduces bad breath.
ABSTRACT
Objectives@#The aim of this study was to investigate the infection rates of bacteria associated with dental caries among children and adolescents in Korea. @*Methods@#Oral examinations were conducted in 146 students. The numbers of bacteria associated with dental caries, such as Streptococcus mitis , Streptococcus mutans , Streptococcus sobrinus , and Lactobacillus casei , in the subjects’ oral cavity were counted by real-time PCR, and infection rates for those bacteria were additionally investigated. @*Results@#The infection rate of Streptococcus mitis , Streptococcus mutans , Streptococcus sobrinus , and Lactobacillus casei was 99.3% (145/146), 63.0% (92/146), 1.4% (2/146), and 25.3% (37/146), respectively. The amounts of Streptococcus sobrinus and Lactobacillus casei did not differ with the participants’ age. However, the number of Streptococcus mutans was 537.6 for primary school students, 5698.2 for middle school students, and 19037.5 for high school students. The mean number of oral bacteria increased with age (P<0.05). The mean bacterial numbers of the infected subjects indicated significant differences in the numbers of Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus mutans (P<0.05). @*Conclusions@#The infection rates of Streptococcus mitis and Streptococcus mutans were distinct in children and adolescents. Efforts to control the bacteria associated with dental caries are needed to prevent dental caries.