Hyaluronan-containing mouthwash as an adjunctive plaque-control agent

Area of Science:

• Oral Hygiene Research
• Periodontology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid) possesses anti-inflammatory, bacteriostatic, and antioxidant properties.
• These characteristics make it a promising agent for long-term anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a 0.025% hyaluronan mouthwash against plaque and gingivitis.
• To compare its effectiveness with 0.2% chlorhexidine and a water-based mouthwash.
• To assess its in vitro antibacterial efficacy on periodontopathogens.

Main Methods:

• A 4-day plaque regrowth model was employed with 45 volunteers in a randomized controlled trial.
• Mouthwashes tested included 0.025% sodium hyaluronate, 0.2% chlorhexidine, and a water-based control.
• Microbiological analysis and clinical dental indices were used for evaluation.

Main Results:

• Hyaluronan demonstrated in vitro inhibition of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) and Prevotella intermedia (Pi), but not Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg).
• In vivo, both chlorhexidine and hyaluronan mouthwashes significantly reduced plaque regrowth compared to the water-based control (P=0.033 and P=0.045, respectively).
• No statistically significant difference in plaque inhibition was observed between chlorhexidine and hyaluronan (P=0.69).

Conclusions:

• 0.025% hyaluronan mouthwash is comparable to 0.2% chlorhexidine in inhibiting in vivo plaque growth.
• Hyaluronan mouthwash significantly reduced the in vitro growth of Aa and Pi.