CPC mouth rinse reduces periodontitis in pregnant women

TAMPA, Fla. - An alcohol-free mouthwash containing Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) decreased gingival inflammation and periodontal disease in pregnant women, according to a poster presentation at the American Association for Dental Research annual meeting.

The product tested was Crest ProHealth, which contains 0.07% CPC. The research was conducted at the University of Pennsylvania and supported by Procter & Gamble, makers of Crest ProHealth.

Due to hormonal changes, gingivitis is known to occur quite frequently in pregnant women and is commonly known as pregnancy gingivitis, study author Nipul Tanna, DMD, clinical assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, told DrBicuspid.com.

"We know that pregnant women can have a significant increase in gingival bleeding even if they maintain good oral hygiene," he added.

Previous research has suggested a relationship between periodontal health and adverse pregnancy outcomes, noted the study authors.

Using an alcohol-free antibacterial mouth rinse containing CPC has already been shown to decrease the incidence of preterm births, according to a study presented last year at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) annual meeting.

Even though some dentists have been recommending alcohol-free mouth rinse to their pregnant patients, this is one of the first studies to test its effects on periodontal parameters, said Dr. Tanna.

Statistically significant findings

Dr. Tanna and his colleagues conducted a controlled, single-blinded clinical study that included 160 pregnant women with gestation age ranging from 6 to 20 weeks.

The study subjects were divided into two groups. Both the groups received standardized toothpaste and toothbrushes and were instructed to rinse with Crest ProHealth or served as controls with no mouthwash. (The control group did not get a placebo, because Procter & Gamble could not create a liquid with the same color and taste as Crest ProHealth that could be used effectively in the study.)

The researchers took the participants' medical and dental histories at the start of the study. They also conducted periodontal exams at baseline and three months later. Periodontal status was evaluated by clinical measurements of probing depths, probing attachment levels, and bleeding on probing.

Among the study findings:

• A significant decrease (improvement) over the course of the study in periodontal probing (pocket) depth and attachment level (PAL) was observed in the rinse group (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively), but not in the control groups.
• The control group had a significant increase in bleeding on probing that was not exhibited by the rinse group.
• The controls exhibited an increase in the number of sites with attachment loss > 4 mm.

"The use of a CPC mouthwash showed an overall improvement in periodontal health and inflammation in pregnant women," the authors concluded.