Tips on use of Chlorhexidine mouthwash

Chlorhexidine Mouthwash

Chlorhexdine is one of most commonly used mouthwashes in worldwide. 0.2% or 0.12%  is the normal concentration of regular Chlorhexdine mouthwash and also available in higher concentrations.
Why Chlorhexidine is useful as a mouthwash?

• Having high antiplaque activity.
• Used as antiseptic.
• More active against gram positive bacteria.
• Absorbed by teeth and oral tissues and slowly released to the oral environment
• Bactericidal (kills bacteria) in high concentrations and bacteriostatic (limit bacterial growth) in low concentrations.
• Primary root of excretion is via faeces and not absorbed from bowel, and therefor safe to use.

What are the side effects of Chlorhexidine mouthwash?

Staining due to Chlorhexidine Mouthwash It may cause staining of teeth, restorations and your tongue usually if used more than 10 days. Not everyone will experience this. This stain can be removed by having your teeth professional cleaned. Lingering after taste that may change taste perception. You will adjust to time to this effect with no permanent change to your taste perception. May cause Irritation in salivary ductal areas rarely parotid salivary gland swelling may present. Increase in calculus formation above the gumline may develop.  Can Chlorhexidine mouthwash  be used if I am pregnant or a nursing mother? Pregnancy Teratogenic Effects Pregnancy category B. Reproduction studies have been performed in rats and rabbits at Chlorhexidine gluconate doses up to 300 mg/kg/day and 40 mg/kg/day, respectively, and have not revealed evidence of harm to the fetus. However, adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women have not been done. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Nursing Mothers It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse is administered to nursing women. In parturition and lactation studies with rats, no evidence of impaired parturition or of toxic effects to suckling pups was observed when Chlorhexidine gluconate was administered to dams at doses that were over 100 times greater than that which would result from a person's ingesting 30 ml (2 capfuls) of Chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse per day. Pediatric Use Clinical effectiveness and safety of Chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse have not been established in children under the age of 18. How to use Chlorhexidine Mouthwashes? Have to use as an adjunct. chlorhexidine alone cannot eliminate dental plaque proper brushig have to be done. Do not use before or immediately after tooth brushing. Use after at least 1hour  from brushing. Why ? Anionic surfactants in toothpastes cause low effective delivery of Chlorhexidine 0.2% mouthwash 10 ml twice daily. maximum period of use 2-3 weeks. keep in the mouth for 1 minute. do not swallow.