Dental News - Offering your patients alcohol-free products

Jodie Heimbach, USA

Tue. 15 December 2015

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Fluoride or no fluoride, compact toothbrush or full size toothbrush, coronal polish first or polish last. The decisions necessary in the dental practice are numerous and many times are based upon personal choice. How and when does the dental professional decide whether to eliminate alcohol products from the practice or limit the recommendation of products that contain a high quantity of alcohol?

The debate continues as to whether alcohol may be drying of the oral tissues, but substance abuse disorders are part of the human condition and touch as many as one in four American families.[1]

If you are considering a reduction in the amount of alcohol used within product recommendations where should the dental professional begin?

One of the most common products the dental professional may recommend is chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX). CHX has been considered the gold standard for the reduction of biofilm and gingival inflammation. Chlorhexidine is an antiseptic mouthrinse that is bactericidal and effective against some forms of yeasts and viruses. Most chlorhexidine mouthrinses contain 11.6 percent alcohol. If one were seeking an alternative to reduce alcohol by 11.6 percent, Sunstar Americas provides the clinician with GUM Paroex, the only FDA-approved alcohol-free 0.12 percent chlorhexidine gluconate mouthrinse.

GUM Paroex

To keep patients healthier and reduce the risk of allergies, many dental offices are now latex free and also now moving toward no-alcohol. In a similar principal, why not create an alcohol-free practice that will benefit the oral health of your patients without the irritation of alcohol?

The GUM Paroex Chlorhexidine was tested beside Peridex and Periogard to evaluate the effectiveness compared with products that contain alcohol. Results showed there was no difference in effective-ness between the alcohol-free and the others. The alcohol-free chlorhexidine was as effec-tive as one containing alcohol in controlling plaque and reducing gingival inflammation.[2]

GUM Paroex is ideal for immune compromised patients challenged with mucositis or patients who are receiving head and neck radiation.[3] GUM Paroex also can be considered as a post-opera-tive treatment following periodontal procedures and for a pre-procedur-al rinse in the office to protect patients and the dental team by reducing airborne bacteria.[4]

Chlorhexidine may also be used in caries control programs. Because dental caries are a bacterial infection, an antimicrobial such as chlorhexi-dine may be indicated to reduce caries.[5]

Additional concerns may be the individual who is suffering with xerosto-mia, ulcerative gingivitis and tissue damage; these conditions may be exacerbated by alcohol.[6] Also consider treatment of the patients with alcohol dependency who may not reveal their full health history.

Using a product with 11.6 percent alcohol is not necessary when there is an alcohol-free alternative that is clinically equivalent.

Paroex is dispensed in a 16 oz. bottle that may be purchased at the dental office or by prescription from the local pharmacy. (A new 4 oz. bottle was introduced in 2014.) The dental professional can feel secure in dispensing an FDA-approved alcohol-free chlorhexidine to patients for periodontal maintenance, immunosup-pressed conditions, post-surgical care and pre-procedural rinsing.

GUM Rincinol

GUM Rincinol is a mouthrinse that provides whole-mouth pain relief. It is the first non-prescription bio-adherent mucosal coating for long-lasting soft-tissue pain relief. The pain relief may occur in less than three minutes and has been reported to last for up to six hours. In addi-tion, it does not contain alcohol or benzocaine.

The lack of alcohol and benzocaine will reduce stinging and burning sensations, or any post-treatment numbing effects. GUM Rincinol will comfort patients with apthous ulcers, denture sores, irritation from orthodontic appliances, re-movable prosthetics, post-oral surgery, scaling and/or root planning pro-cedures, mucositis, xerostomia and any other intraoral irritation. Many dental professionals recommend the soothing rinse for use with those undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

GUM Rincinol promotes healing because it contains aloe. It is safe for use in adults and children ages 6 and up and is even safe if accidentally ingested. Each application lasts up to six hours, but will depend on the daily diet regimen. The product may be purchased in a pack of individual sachets or 4 oz. bottles from the dental office. The 4 oz. bottles are available in most major drug store chains.

At the end of your day, when you must decide whether to eliminate alcohol products from your practice or limit the recommendation of products that contain a high quantity of alcohol, consider the alterna-tives offered by Sunstar GUM.

This article was published in Hygiene Tribune U.S. Edition, Vol. 8, No. 7, December 2015 issue. A complete list of references is available from the publisher.

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