Abstract
BACKGROUND: Periodontal diseases are primarily caused by pathogenic microorganisms in the oral cavity. Mouth rinses are often recommended as adjuncts to mechanical oral hygiene measures to control microbial load. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of various mouth rinses on periodontal pathogens in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An in-vitro study was conducted to assess the antimicrobial effects of three commercially available mouth rinses: chlorhexidine gluconate (0.12%), cetylpyridinium chloride (0.07%), and herbal-based mouth rinse. Standard strains of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Prevotella intermedia were used. The agar diffusion method was employed to measure the zones of inhibition for each mouth rinse. All tests were conducted in triplicate, and the mean zone of inhibition was calculated for each mouth rinse against the pathogens. RESULTS: Chlorhexidine gluconate demonstrated the highest antimicrobial efficacy, with mean zones of inhibition of 22 mm, 20 mm, and 18 mm against P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans, and P. intermedia, respectively. Cetylpyridinium chloride showed moderate efficacy, with mean zones of inhibition of 16 mm, 14 mm, and 13 mm, respectively. The herbal-based mouth rinse exhibited the least efficacy, with mean zones of inhibition of 10 mm, 9 mm, and 8 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: Chlorhexidine gluconate remains the gold standard among the tested mouth rinses for its superior antimicrobial properties against periodontal pathogens. Cetylpyridinium chloride and herbal-based mouth rinses, while effective to a lesser extent, can still serve as alternative options for maintaining oral hygiene. Further in-vivo studies are recommended to confirm these findings and evaluate their clinical significance.