Efficacy of a prebrushing rinse for orthodontic patients.

The oral health benefits of a prebrushing rinse, when used in conjunction with an established twice-a-day brushing regimen, was investigated in a population of orthodontic patients. Twenty children (ages 11-18) who were undergoing orthodontic treatment that required brackets and labial wires were enrolled. This randomized, double-blind, cross-over clinical trial compared five weeks of twice-daily use of a commercial prebrushing rinse (Plax) to five weeks of a placebo rinse. Three investigators rated plaque accumulation (Simplified Oral Hygiene Index) and gingival health (modified O'Leary Index) prior to treatment and after each five week session. Because one child exited from the project and three children did not satisfactorily comply with the treatment protocol, sixteen children were used for the analysis. Although both treatment groups showed plaque and gingival improvement from pretreatment scores, no differences in plaque accumulation ratings and gingival health ratings were noted between the active and placebo rinse treatments.