General principles for the delivery of active agents from mouthrinses

Mouthrinses are a convenient and accepted method of delivering oral therapeutic agents. Efficacy, however, depends on several factors including the type of drug used and its properties, use of an optimal delivery vehicle, patient compliance or usage practices and the therapeutic indication for which they are used. Three classes of therapeutic agents currently used in mouthrinses are reviewed, including fluorides, tartar control agents and antimicrobial compounds. The specific agents in these categories, some of which are currently used in mouthrinses, span a broad range of chemical and pharmacological properties. A basic understanding of these properties allows for a rational use of these agents in therapeutically optimised formulations.