Fluoride, pH Value, and Titratable Acidity of Commercially Available Mouthwashes.

AIM: The primary objective of this work was to assess total soluble fluoride (TSF), pH values, and titratable acidity (TA) of various mouthwashes "in vitro," and the second was to compare fluoride content on labels with measured TSF. METHODS: Commercial mouthwashes were collected and analysed. Company, type, manufacturer data, and active ingredients (essential oils [EO], cetylpyridinium chloride [CPC], chlorhexidine [CHX], and fluoride) were described. TSF, pH, and TA capacity were measured. Descriptive quantitative analysis were performed per mouthwash. RESULTS: In total, 54 mouthwashes from 20 brands were included. These included mouthwashes with the active ingredients EO (n = 11), CPC (n = 17), CHX (n = 18), and fluoride (n = 32); 27 mouthwashes with more than 1 of these active ingredients; and 4 with none of the above-mentioned ingredients. Fluoride was present in different formulations; most contained sodium fluoride (NaF), and a few had sodium monofluorophosphate and amine fluoride + NaF. The pH values of all evaluated mouthwashes ranged from 4.1 to 7.9. Twenty mouthwashes presented pHs below 5.5, of which 10 contained fluoride. TA ranged from 0 to 48. According to the manufacturer data, mouthwashes with fluoride had concentrations from 217 to 450 ppm, with 90% in the range from 217 to 254 ppm. Laboratory data revealed that TSF ranged from 229 to 500 ppm, with 90% in the range from 229 to 337 ppm. A statistically significant difference was observed between measured TSF and the labelled fluoride content on the packaging of the fluoride mouthwashes (mean difference, 43.92 ± 34.34; P < .001). Most of these mouthwashes contained at least the amount of fluoride as mentioned on the packaging (93%). CONCLUSION: The pH values and TA of commercially available mouthwashes showed a large variation. TSF levels of the fluoride mouthwashes were found to be at least the amount of fluoride as labelled. Dental care professionals should be aware of the pH, TA, fluoride content, and other active ingredients of different mouthwashes to better understand their potential impact on oral health.

[Effects of mouthwash with essential oils on dental plaque and gingivitis]. / Effect van mondspoelmiddelen met essentiële oliën op tandplaque en gingivitis.

The advice for daily oral care is to brush teeth twice a day with toothpaste containing fluoride and to practice interdental cleaning. The use of mouthwash with essential oils is not part of this advice, but is sometimes recommended when daily oral care is insufficient, or if mechanical cleaning is temporarily difficult or impossible. The results of a systematic literature review show that there is sufficient evidence, of moderate methodological quality, mouthwash with essential oils can reduce dental plaque and gingivitis. Oral care professionals can recommend mouthwash with essential oils as an adjunct to daily oral care.

[How effective is Blue®m?] / Hoe effectief is Blue®m?

Oral care products with active oxygen, such as Blue®m, can be used to support daily oral care. The question is, what evidence is currently available about the effectivity of Blue®m? In PubMed, 1 randomised controlled trial and 1 summary of a trial were found in which a Blue®m product was examined. Case studies were also found on the Blue®m website, none of which met the CARE criteria for describing case studies. After analyzing the scientific article and conducting a short-term pilot study, it can be concluded that there is currently no evidence that Blue®m oral care products are more effective than other oral care products.