Effect of Intraoral Antiseptic Solutions on Saliva Parameters

Aim of the study Most public health measures to contain any pandemic are based on preventing the spread of the pathogen. During oral procedures, dentists are significantly exposed to the risk of infection. In the dental environment, antiseptic mouthwashes are used in many pre-procedures clinical situations to reduce the risk of contamination. Objective: The aim of our study was to assess the impact of the most used oral disinfectants among dentists on salivary parameters. Materials and method: First, we assessed the most used oral disinfectants among dentists using an electronic questionnaire, which contained 12 questions. Based on the results of the questionnaire, we rinse patients with chlorhexidine, povidone-iodine, hydrogen peroxide, or cetylpyridinium chloride-based mouthwashes. Using a pH meter (Hanna Instruments HI-2202 edge), saliva pH was measured before and after rinsing at 1, 30, 60, and 120 minutes. Results: Chlorhexidine seems to be the most used disinfectant, meanwhile cetylpyridine chloride is seldomly used. Comparing the salivary pH changes among different determinations, the most significant difference was measured for chlorhexidine (p=0.0001), followed by hydrogen peroxide (p=0.00025), then cetylpyridine chloride (p=0.00029) and finally povidone iodine (0.00064). Conclusions: The greatest change in pH was measured after the use of chlorhexidine, followed by hydrogen peroxide, then cetylpyridine chloride, and finally povidone iodine. Except for hydrogen peroxide, the most significant change in pH was observed at the first measurement after disinfection, while for hydrogen peroxide, the third measurement showed a significant change.