Studies

Improving the management of oral diseases

Mouthrinses containing antimicrobial substances such as chlorhexidine are among the many oral healthcare products that can help manage the effects of oral diseases. Although chlorhexidine is well recognised as a potent antibacterial agent, it is negatively associated with disturbed taste, discoloration of natural teeth and restorations, and painful irritation of the oral mucosa. These adverse side effects, combined with current patient preferences, emphasise the need for alternative mouthrinse ingredients. It is now believed that naturally derived substances like Citrox could be the key to improving the management of oral diseases through the use of dental products such as mouthrinses.

As a soluble formulation of bioflavonoids derived from bitter oranges, Citrox has demonstrated antimicrobial activity against a wide range of bacteria, viruses and fungi, making it an ideal ingredient in mouth rinses. In fact, one study has revealed that, when it is combined with other substances, Citrox is significantly more effective at reducing bacterial plaque.[i]In the study, researchers evaluated the antimicrobial activity of five different mouth rinses (including solutions containing Citrox) against 14 microorganisms—some of which are associated with oral diseases and other infections of the human body.


“By combining Citrox with other supplements, enhanced antimicrobial effects against common oral pathogens can be obtained.”

It was found that the mouthrinse containing both Citrox and chlorhexidine exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity of all the solutions tested. This combined formula also proved more effective at eradicating potentially harmful microbes, compared with either of these agents used alone. The researchers believe that the reason for this finding may be as a result of Citrox’s ability to affect multiple targets of a microbial cell, leading to an enhanced and possibly synergistic effect. The fact that mouthrinses containing Citrox are significantly effective against planktonic cells is important to note, as these free-living microorganisms are abundant in saliva, providing the food source for bacteria to colonise and for subsequent biofilm to form in the mouth.

The results of this study indicate that, by combining Citrox with other supplements, enhanced antimicrobial effects against common oral pathogens can be obtained, thereby eliminating the risk of adverse side effects and improving long-term oral health. This is a motivational concept for many practitioners, who strive to ensure patients are able to make the most of the benefits provided by modern dental products. Recommending Citrox-based solutions could prove invaluable to patients with acute dental problems, helping them to increase their chances of recovery from oral disease.


[i] Malic S, Emanuel C, Lewis MA, Williams DW. Antimicrobial activity of novel mouthrinses against planktonic cells and biofilms of pathogenic microorganisms. Microbiology Discovery. 2013 Oct 4;1:11. doi: 10.7243/2052-6180-1-11.