One-year trial of the effect of rinsing with an amine fluoride-stannous-fluoride-containing mouthwash on gingival index scores and salivary microbial counts in lymphoma patients receiving cytostatic drugs.

This double-blind study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of twice-daily use of a mouthwash containing 0.025% of fluoride as amine fluoride-stannous fluoride (AmF + SnF) or 0.05% of fluoride as sodium fluoride (NaF) on visible plaque index (VPI) and gingival bleeding index (GBI) and on some salivary micro-organisms in patients suffering from non-Hodgkin or Hodgkin lymphomas. 79 patients were allocated at random to the two mouthwash groups. Mouthwashing began at the start of cancer chemotherapy. Results relating to 45 patients who completed a 1-year rinsing protocol showed a significant decrease in VPI and GBI in the AmF + SnF group. An increase was found in the NaF group. Mean values for stimulated salivary secretion rates and buffering capacities mostly did not differ significantly from baseline values during the study. In both groups, mutans streptococci counts decreased significantly after the study began and remained low in the AmF + SnF group. No corresponding effect was seen in relation to lactobacilli and yeast counts. In the NaF group, lactobacilli counts increased significantly over a year. Significantly more patients reported adverse or unpleasant effects in the AmF + SnF group (52%) than in the NaF group (6%), although both solutions had the same colour and taste. However, all patients continued with rinsing.