Comparative analysis of some mouthrinses on the production of volatile sulfur-containing compounds.

Oral malodor is mainly caused by the presence of volatile sulfur-containing compounds (VSC) produced by proteolytic periodontopathic bacteria in the oral cavity. Different solutions have been used as mouthrinses, trying to reduce malodor, and a large number is on the market. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of three commercially available mouthrinses with a simple inexpensive solution of zinc (zinc acetate 0.1%) on the production of VSC in vivo. Two of the solutions contained triclosan, one of them with fluoride and the other with sodium bicarbonate, and the third one contained herbal components. Seven healthy subjects rinsed with cysteine to induce production of VSC at baseline. After halitosis induction and VSC measurements, the subjects rinsed with the test solution, and mouth airVSC analyses were then performed by means of gas chromatography subsequent to repeated cysteine rinses after 30, 60, and 120 min. The data were calculated as percentage reduction of VSC from baseline. The percentage reduction of VSC decreased over time for all experimental groups. Zinc acetate had clearly the highest percentage reduction, starting from 95.68% at 30 min and with 69.27% after 2 h. The three other mouthrinses produced a VSC reduction of 23.92% 49.86% after 30 min, decreasing to 13.06%-37.09% after 2 h. One-way ANOVA (P = 0.05) was applied, and comparisons showed no differences between the commercially available solutions, but zinc acetate was significantly better than these. It may be concluded that some commercial mouthrinses are markedly less effective than a simple and cheap solution of zinc acetate.