Effective evaluation of benzydamine hydrochloride as a mouth wash in subjects with plaque induced gingival inflammation

Purpose: Benzydamine hydrochloride is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that has shown topical anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anesthetic, and antimicrobial activities most often used in radiation induced oral mucositis. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of 0.15% benzydamine hydrochloride as a mouth wash in subjects with severe generalized gingivitis on comparison with 0.2% chlorhexidine. Methods: In this double-blind, randomized, clinical trial, 30 patients were equally divided into two groups. Patients in Group I were advised to rinse their mouths with 10 ml of 0.2% chlorhexidine(CHX) twice daily, Group II with 10 ml of benzydamine (BZD) mouth wash twice daily for two weeks. The clinical parameters measured were plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), modified sulcular bleeding index (mSBI). These parameters were recorded at baseline, I week, 2 weeks and 1 month. Results: There was no significant difference when the efficacy of benzydamine hydrochloride was compared to 0.2% chlorhexidine in subjects with severe gingivitis. A statistically significant decrease was observed in PI, GI, mSBI scores at 1 week, 2 weeks and 1 month when compared to baseline (P<0.05) in both the groups although intergroup comparison did not reveal statistical significant difference between the test and the control group. (P>0.05) Conclusions: Benzydamine hydrochloride 0.15% as a mouth wash was as effective as chlorhexidine digluconate 0.2% in reducing gingival inflammation induced due to plaque accumulation thus, controls further disease progression. This chemical agent is also cost effective, easily available, and well tolerated with no reported side effects.