In a recent study, Dr. T. Blom and colleagues systematically reviewed the literature regarding the impact of mouthrinses on oral malodor, as well as current evidence for the treatment effects of mouthrinses on oral malodor. The authors searched PubMed-MEDLINE, the Cochrane-CENTRAL and EMBASE through February 10, 2012 to identify studies that met the review criteria. The outcome variables selected were: volatile sulphur compound measurements, organoleptic measurements, and tongue coating. The review independently screened 333 unique titles and paper abstracts, which resulted in 12 publications (12 experiments) that met the eligibility criteria. Means and standard deviations were extracted. The results were separated into short-term (< 3 weeks) and longer-term (≥ 3 weeks) studies. The review found that in both short- and longer-term studies, nearly all mouthwashes with active ingredients had beneficial effects in reducing oral malodor. The most compelling evidence was provided for chlorhexidine mouthwashes, and those that contained a combination of cetyl pyridinum chloride and zinc provided the best evidence profile on oral malodor. Little data with respect to tongue coating were available, and none of the studies showed a beneficial effect for this parameter.
