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 .
The efficacy of an essential oil antiseptic mouthrinse vs. dental floss in controlling interproximal gingivitis: a comparative study.
BACKGROUND The use of dental floss has long been considered to be effective in controlling interproximal plaque and gingivitis . The authors compared this method with that of use of a mouthrinse . METHODS Subjects with mild-to-moderate gingivitis enrolled in a long-term , six-month study . They received a dental prophylaxis and were r and omized into one of the three following treatment groups : brushing and rinsing with an essential oil-containing mouthrinse ( the BEO group ) , brushing and flossing ( the BF group ) and brushing and rinsing with a control rinse ( the B group ) . RESULTS A total of 326 subjects were evaluated . The BEO and BF had significantly lower ( P < .001 ) mean interproximal Modified Gingival Index , or MGI , scores than did the B group at six months . The BEO group had lower mean interproximal Plaque Index , or PI , scores than the other two groups at both three and six months . The BF group 's mean PI score was significantly lower than the B group 's mean score at six months only . The magnitude of reductions for the BEO and the BF groups ( vs. the B group ) in MGI were 11.1 percent and 4.3 percent and for PI were 20.0 percent and 3.4 percent , respectively . CONCLUSIONS In conjunction with professional care ( prophylaxis ) and toothbrushing over six months , rinsing twice daily with an essential oil-containing mouthrinse was at least as good as flossing daily in reducing interproximal plaque and gingivitis . Clinical Implication s. When weighing recommendations for oral hygiene home care , clinicians should consider that an essential oil-containing mouthrinse may be a useful adjunct in patients with gingival inflammation
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 .