EFFECT OF CHLORHEXIDINE MOUTHWASH ON TASTE ALTERATION

Abstract

Objective: Chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash is used as an antibacterial mouthwash since it is active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative
organisms, anaerobes, aerobes, and yeast. It helps in reduction of dental plaque and is used to help treat gingivitis. Adverse effects of chlorohexidine
are increased staining of teeth, burning sensation and most importantly taste alteration. This study will be based on the change of taste perception
after rinsing with 0.2% CHX. To study the effect of 0.2% CHX mouthwash on taste perception.
Methods: Patients were exposed to different tastes using four samples-sweet, sour, bitter and saltiness and using a visual analog scale the intensity of
taste perception was noted before and after CHX rinses. This study was performed on 100 patients from Saveetha Dental College.
Results: Sweet taste was the same for 59% of the cases while 31% of them had mild decrease in sweetness. In the case of sourness, 76% had same
while 17% had mild reduction in sour sensation. For bitterness 2% of the cases had same, 25% had mild decrease, 63% had moderate decrease and
4% had severe decrease for the taste. While in saltiness, 9% of the cases had same, 58% had mild decresase and 26% had severe decrease.
Conclusion: It was found that 0.2% CHX has reduced the intensity of bitterness and saltiness quite drastically while sweetness and sourness had
shown very less to no reduction in an intensity of taste perception.
Keywords: Chlorhexidine, Mouthwash, Taste, Dysguesia.