Effect of different mouth rinses on third molar surgery–related oral malodor

Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of 4 types of widely used commercial mouth rinses on third molar surgery–related oral malodor. Study design In this double-blind selective clinical trial, 80 participants (40 women, 40 men) who had undergone third molar surgery were divided into 5 groups, and different mouth rinses were given to each: 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate (Chx), 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate with 0.15% benzydamine hydrochloride (Chx+Bzd), 7.5% polyvinylpyrrolidone iodine (Pvp), 0.15% benzydamine hydrochloride (Bzd), and sterile saline solution (Ss), with other routine medications. Oral malodor of patients was evaluated with 3 methods; using a Halimeter, an organoleptic method, and patient self-evaluation. Measurements were performed preoperatively and postoperatively (pre-op, third, eighth, and fifteenth days). Results Bad breath parameters systematically increased ( P Conclusion Third molar surgery–related oral malodor increases during the first postoperative week and decreases to the preoperative level after 15 days. Results from the 3 different methods showed that Chx and Chx+Bzd mouth rinses are more effective mouth rinses than the others on third molar surgery–related oral malodor.