Effect of daily rinsing with stannous fluoride on plaque and gingivitis: final report.

Two groups of children, ages 12 to 15, rinsed daily for 28 mo with aqueous fluoride solutions, one group using 0.05% sodium fluoride (NaF) and the other group using 0.1% stannous fluoride (SnF2). The SnF2 group had less plaque accumulation after four mo, but no difference was apparent at 16 and 28 mo. Gingivitis was less severe in the SnF2 group throughout the study, although the difference did not reach statistical significance. The 0.1% SnF2 solution, used daily as a mouthrinse, inhibits plaque formation, although this inhibitory effect is not apparent after 16 mo of rinsing.