“How effective is oral CHG, and are there any special precautions for using the oral CHG rinses?”
The use of CHG for oral decontamination follows decades of use of this product by dentists in patients with gingivitis and periodontitis.[2] The recent increased use in hospitals has been primarily as an intervention to reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) by reducing the number of bacteria able to colonize or infect the upper and lower airways. Several studies have assessed efficacy of this approach, and it has been included in most VAP prevention bundles, although current evidence does not conclusively support the routine use of CHG in mechanically ventilated patients, except in cardiac surgery patients.[33]
CHG is deactivated by anionic compounds, including the anionic surfactants commonly used as detergents in toothpastes and mouthwashes. For this reason, CHG mouth rinses should be used at least 30 minutes after other dental products.[16] For best effectiveness, food, drink, smoking, and mouth rinses should be avoided for at least 1 hour after oral CHG use.
Anionic substances, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, commonly found in toothpaste, also disrupt CHG’s cationic activity. For this reason, a time delay between brushing and gargling is advisable.
The most common unwanted effect of using oral chlorhexidine is staining of the teeth. A yellow-brown stain, similar to what occurs with excessive coffee or tobacco use, occurs in about half of patients exposed to the oral solution. However, the staining is highly variable in different individuals, and the cause is not known with certainty. Patients should be advised that this is a normal cosmetic and temporary effect. The stain can be removed with standard professional dental cleaning.
Answer: chlorhexidine gluconate alternative
TheraSol when looking for an alternative to Peridex [chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse].
