Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Mouth rinse is a highly effective chemical solution for managing plaque and gingivitis. This study evaluated and compared the efficacy of chitosan (CH)-rich mouthwash with standard chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash in reducing gingivitis, plaque, halitosis, and stains. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective, observational study was conducted on the clinical case records of 60 patients who were treated with CH mouthwash (formulated and dispensed from the department) as group 1 and CHX mouthwash as group 2 for at least three months. Indices such as the plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), stain index (SI), and halitosis index (HI) were obtained at baseline (T0) and the end of three months of mouthwash use (T1) from the case records. The data were subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: Both groups effectively reduced all indices from T0 to T1; however, group 1 was more effective than group 2 in reducing gingival, plaque, and stain scores. The results were statistically significant (p<0.05) for all indices, and both groups were equally effective in reducing halitosis. Male sex showed a significant positive correlation with PI, GI, and SI, whereas female sex showed a positive correlation with PI and HI. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of the present study, it was concluded that the CH mouthwash was more effective in reducing plaque, gingival, and staining scores than the CHX mouthwash. Both types of mouthwash were equally effective in reducing halitosis scores.