The effect of a urea peroxide rinse on dental plaque and gingivitis

The effectiveness of a commercially prepared oxygenating agent (Gly-Oxide Liquid) in reducing plaque accumulation and gingivitis was studied over a 3-week period. Sixty-nine dental students, ages 20 to 30, were divided into three groups: control (group I), placebo (group II), test formulation (group III). Subjects were scored using the Plaque and Gingival indices of Loe et al. at the beginning of the study and at 1, 2, and 3-week intervals. In accordance with a well-established experimental gingivitis model, oral hygiene was withdrawn for the duration of the study. No statistically significant differences in plaque development was noted. Analysis of variance showed a significant treatment effect on gingivitis (P less than 0.01). A significant difference between group I and group III was evident (P less than 0.05). The study indicates that the formulation may be effective in reducing gingivitis in human subjects. Additional investigations regarding its usefulness as a routine oral hygiene adjunct are warranted.