Salt and Peroxide Compared with Conventional Oral Hygiene: II. Microbial Results

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the effect of conventional oral hygiene (n = 116 subjects) versus a salt and peroxide oral hygiene regimen (n = 115 subjects) on subgingival microorganisms. Subgingival plaque for microscopic evaluation was obtained from eight index tooth sites in each of 231 adult subjects. Microbial forms were microscopically identified at baseline, 8, 16, and 24 months. For both oral hygiene groups, cocci were increased (P < 0.05) and motile rods were decreased (P < 0.05) at 8 months and returned to baseline by 16 months. Spirochetes were decreased (P < 0.05) and remained low through 24 months in both oral hygiene groups. The frequency of agreement between clinical (bleeding) and microbial (.gtoreq. 15% spirochetes or motile rods or .gtoreq. 20% spirochetes + motile rods) criteria for instrumentation was 59.8%. It was also found that fewer total instrumentations for test subjects were observed when microbiological criteria were used as compared with clinical criteria. The greater number of instrumentations based on clinical criteria was highly significant (P .ltoreq. 0.001). A significant change in microbial signs associated with periodontal disease may be obtained with either a conventional oral hygiene or a salt and peroxide oral hygiene home care regimen.