[Chemical control of plaque: comparative review]

Plaque control can be achieved by mechanical means. Since plaque removal can be laborious and difficult, chemical agents became important adjuncts to traditional oral hygiene procedures. Chlorhexidine is one of the synthetic antiseptics that has a unique antiplaque effect and 0.2% chlorhexidine can achieve a practically complete plaque control. It has one negative effect namely an extrinsic brown-yellow staining. Listerine has proven its ability to reduce plaque and gingivitis in a moderate way. Hexetidine has a greater antiplaque effect in combination with zinc and can be compared with a 0.1% chlorhexidine. Povidone-iodine can not be used to keep plaque at low levels. Sanguinarine can reduce plaque accumulation when the toothpaste and mouthrinse are used together. H2O2 is an antiplaque agent but has some negative effects such as ulcerations... One can conclude that the use of a chemical agent cannot replace a good mechanical plaque control but is rather an adjunct to oral hygiene under certain conditions.