The studies in this systematic review provide strong evidence of the antiplaque , antigingivitis effects of multiple agents .
BACKGROUND AND METHODS The author conducted a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the efficacy of  antigingivitis and antiplaque products  in six-month trials .
A comparison of intraoral antimicrobial effects of stabilized stannous fluoride dentifrice, baking soda/peroxide dentifrice, conventional NaF dentifrice and essential oil mouthrinse.
The intraoral antimicrobial activity of four commercial oral products-conventional NaF dentifrice ( Crest ) , baking soda/peroxide/NaF dentifrice ( Mentadent ) , essential oil mouthrinse ( Listerine ) and SnF2 dentifrice ( Crest Plus Gum Care)-have been compared in three test regimens . Formulations were compared for their ability to suppress the regrowth and apical extension of dental plaque following toothbrushing during thirty hours of non-brushing where products were used as oral rinses ( 30-hour plaque regrowth model ) . Formulations were also compared for their ability to suppress the colony-forming units ( cfu ) of facultative anaerobic bacteria sample d from buccal gingival surfaces following use ( Gingival Surface Microbial Index-GSMI model ) . Lastly , formulations were compared for effects in suppressing the glycolytic metabolic activity and regrowth activity of in vivo-treated dental plaques sample d at various periods following topical use and incubated under controlled ex vivo conditions ( Plaque Glycolysis and Regrowth-PGRM model ) . In thirty-hour plaque regrowth testing , the rank ordered antimicrobial efficacy of formulations followed SnF2 > essential oils > NaF = water = baking soda/peroxide . In GSMI testing , all formulations were shown to suppress the cfu of facultative anaerobic bacteria relative to baseline , although SnF2 treatment was observed to reduce bacterial levels to a significantly greater degree than NaF dentifrice or baking soda/peroxide dentifrice up to two hours following brushing . In PGRM testing , the SnF2 dentifrice provided significant inhibition of bacterial metabolism and regrowth following topical application when compared with the NaF dentifrice as control . The baking soda/peroxide dentifrice provided no reduction in either bacterial metabolism or regrowth in PGRM . Previous studies had demonstrated modest effects for essential oil rinse in reducing PGRM plaque regrowth , with no effects for this treatment on plaque metabolism . Overall , these results demonstrate that SnF2 dentifrice provides substantial intraoral antimicrobial effects . The essential oil mouthrinse also exhibits significant intraoral antimicrobial effects , albeit apparently less than SnF2 dentifrice . The baking soda/peroxide dentifrice did not produce any antimicrobial effects following in vivo use compared with conventional dentifrice . These results provide mechanistic rationale for the chemotherapeutic efficacy of SnF2 and essential oil formulations in reducing gingivitis , while providing no support for the expectation of clinical efficacy for formulations containing baking soda and peroxide
The studies in this systematic review provide strong evidence of the antiplaque , antigingivitis effects of multiple agents .
BACKGROUND AND METHODS The author conducted a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the efficacy of  antigingivitis and antiplaque products  in six-month trials .