Comparative Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Efficacy of Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide, Botanical Oral Rinse, and Kidodent Mouthwash as Preprocedural Mouthrinse: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Context: Aerosols composed of airborne biological material, present significant biohazard risks during dental procedures due to their potential pathogenicity. Effective infection control measures are essential to mitigate these risks during oral prophylaxis and other dental activities.

Aim: The study seeks to evaluate the efficacy of two commercially available mouthwashes - one with stabilized chlorine dioxide (ClO 2 ) and the other herbal based - as preprocedural rinses and their acceptance in children, offering alternative options to Kidodent mouthwash.

Subjects and methods: The study included 60 individuals aged 9-14 years, with 15 participants allocated to each group based on specific inclusion criteria. After obtaining informed consent, participants rinsed with either with fluoride-triclosan-based mouthwash (Kidodent), stabilized ClO 2 mouthwash (Freshclor), botanical oral rinse (BOR) (Oralife), or saline before ultrasonic scaling. Blood agar plates were used to capture airborne bacteria during oral prophylaxis, and colony-forming units (CFUs) were counted after incubation. Sensory analysis assessed mouthwash acceptability using a postoperative hedonic scale.

Statistical analysis used: SPSS software analyzed the data, computing mean ± standard deviation for each variable. One-way ANOVA tested group differences in CFUs, followed by post hoc Tukey's testing. Sensory responses were assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis test.

Results: The study found that BOR, Freshclor, and Kidodent significantly reduced bacterial CFUs compared to normal saline rinse ( P < 0.001). Stabilized ClO 2 and BOR were as effective as Kidodent ( P > 0.05). Children favored stabilized ClO 2 ( n = 15; 100%) and then Kidodent ( n = 13; 86.67%), with BOR being the least favored ( n = 6; 40%).

Conclusions: The research underscores the significance of preprocedural mouthrinses in reducing contamination risks during dental procedures ( P < 0.001). Oralife and Freshclor exhibit efficacy similar to Kidodent mouthwash for children ( P > 0.05), offering safer alternatives containing botanical extracts and stabilized ClO 2 , respectively.