A new clinical trial conducted by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health demonstrates that LISTERINE Antiseptic is almost five times (4.6x) more effective than flossing by a dental hygienist for sustained supragingival plaque reduction following a dental prophylaxis. This long-term randomized, controlled, observer-blind clinical trial studied 156 subjects with various levels of gingivitis. The research was conducted at Salus Research, Inc. in Fort Wayne, IN. All subjects were supervised at the clinical site by a dental hygienist.

The results of this study ("Efficacy of Flossing and Mouthrinsing Regimens on Plaque and Gingivitis: A randomized clinical trial") showed that LISTERINE Antiseptic’s antimicrobial method of action is not only 4.6x more effective than flossing by a dental hygienist for sustained supragingival plaque reduction following a dental prophylaxis, but also demonstrated to be 1.8x more effective than floss for gingivitis reduction. These data demonstrate that adding an antimicrobial oral care solution to mechanical measures can deliver significant oral health benefits for patients because all can work together to attack plaque in different ways. While mechanical methods disrupt and remove plaque daily, long-term use of LISTERINE Antiseptic has germ-kill action that slows the repopulation rate of bacteria and helps reduce the entire microbial mass over time, thinning the biofilm and helping to reset a patient’s oral microbiome to a healthier state.

More detailed results of these studies and its implications for patient oral care routines are published in the June 2022 Journal of Dental Hygiene.