Efficacy of 0.5% Hydrogen Peroxide Mouth Rinse as an Adjunct to Scaling in Chronic Gingivitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background. Chronic gingivitis is a plaque-induced inflammatory condition of the gingiva. While scaling and polishing are standard treatments, adjunctive antimicrobial mouth rinses may enhance clinical outcomes. Hydrogen peroxide, an oxygen-releasing bactericidal agent, is a safe and accessible adjunct.
Aim. To evaluate the effectiveness of daily 0.5% hydrogen peroxide rinsing as an adjunct to scaling in improving gingival health and reducing plaque in chronic gingivitis patients.
Subjects and Methods. Forty systemically healthy adults were randomly assigned to two groups. The control group received scaling and polishing plus oral hygiene instructions, while the test group received scaling and polishing plus twice-daily rinsing with 10 ml of 0.5% hydrogen peroxide for 14 days. Gingival Index (GI) and Plaque Index (PI) were recorded at baseline and post-intervention by the same examiner. Data were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests (p<0.05).
Results. Both groups showed significant reductions in GI and PI scores after 14 days (p<0.001). In the control group, mean GI decreased from 2.04±0.31 to 1.28±0.27, while in the test group, it decreased from 2.06±0.34 to 0.88±0.19, with a significant difference between groups (p<0.001). Similarly, the mean PI decreased from 1.93±0.26 to 1.21±0.24 in the control group and from 1.91±0.29 to 0.83±0.21 in the test group, showing significantly greater improvement in the hydrogen peroxide group (p<0.001). No serious adverse effects were reported.
Conclusions. Daily use of 0.5% hydrogen peroxide as an adjunct to scaling significantly improves gingival health and reduces plaque compared to scaling alone. It is a safe, effective, and low-cost adjunctive therapy for chronic gingivitis.