Background: Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has been used for more than a century clinically to control plaque and gingival inflammation, with unclear supporting evidence.
Aim: The aim of the present systematic review of the literature is to assess the effect of mouth rinses with H2O2 on dental plaque, gingival inflammation, and oral microorganisms.
Methods: Five databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) were searched with the following focused question: what is the effect of hydrogen peroxide, in comparison to chlorhexidine or to a placebo solution, in oral microbiota control, dental plaque, and gingival inflammatory outcomes? Two independent examiners retrieved the articles and evaluated the evidence.
Results: The majority of included studies were performed with 1.5% H2O2. Results related to plaque accumulation generally demonstrate a slightly better effect of H2O2 as compared to placebo mouth rinses, however with a lower performance as compared to chlorhexidine. In terms of gingival inflammation, H2O2 performs better than placebo and more clearly demonstrates an anti-inflammation effect. No studies evaluated the effect of H2O2 against viruses or fungi. In terms of bacteria, H2O2 demonstrates an antibacterial effect.
Conclusion: Rinsing with H2O2 has the potential to affect plaque, gingivitis, and oral bacteria, as compared to placebo. However, the antibacterial results are not comparable to the performance of chlorhexidine.
Copyright © 2020 Francisco Wilker Mustafa Gomes Muniz et al.