Extending regular oral hygiene reduces the incidence of upper respiratory symptoms

DOI record: { "DOI": "10.1590/1807-3107bor-2025.vol39.118", "ISSN": [ "1807-3107", "1806-8324" ], "URL": "http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1807-3107bor-2025.vol39.118", "abstract": "<jats:p>Abstract In this randomized controlled clinical study, the effectiveness of two different modes of extending oral hygiene - either gargling or using an oral spray - on the self-reported incidence of upper respiratory symptoms were evaluated, to help with the prevention of respiratory symptoms. The study was conducted in Porto Alegre, Brazil. A total of 205 individuals were enrolled and assigned to one of three groups: Control Group: brushed twice daily for two minutes with a commercially available fluoride toothpaste; Gargling Group: brushed twice daily for two minutes with a commercially available fluoride toothpaste and then gargled with a mouthwash containing 0.075% CPC (cetylpiridinium chloride); and Oral Spray Group: brushed twice daily for two minutes with a commercially available fluoride toothpaste and instructed to use an oral spray containing 0.075% CPC (3 pumps of spray applied directly into their mouth) twice daily. All subjects were asked to complete the WURSS-21 Daily Symptom Report via a diary for the 3 months duration of the study. Based on analysis of the diaries, the use of regular oral hygiene with brushing, in addition to a type that extended to the entire oral cavity, reduced the incidence and severity of upper respiratory symptoms throughout the duration of the study. Data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA (α = 0.05). Individuals using either mouthwash or spray reported approximately 20% fewer days with respiratory symptoms compared with the control group. Regular oral hygiene that extended to the whole oral cavity with either a mouthwash or an oral spray may help to reduce the incidence of upper respiratory symptoms.</jats:p>", "alternative-id": [ "S1806-83242025000101253" ], "article-number": "e118", "author": [ { "ORCID": "https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8499-5759", "affiliation": [ { "name": "Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil" } ], "authenticated-orcid": false, "family": "RÖSING", "given": "Cassiano Kuchenbecker", "sequence": "first" }, { "ORCID": "https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0062-6604", "affiliation": [ { "name": "Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil" } ], "authenticated-orcid": false, "family": "CAVAGNI", "given": "Juliano", "sequence": "additional" }, { "ORCID": "https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2373-6160", "affiliation": [ { "name": "Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil" } ], "authenticated-orcid": false, "family": "ROTTA", "given": "Isadora dos Santos", "sequence": "additional" }, { "ORCID": "https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3620-8076", "affiliation": [ { "name": "Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil" } ], "authenticated-orcid": false, "family": "SOSSAI", "given": "Lorena Lirio", "sequence": "additional" }, { "ORCID": "https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6486-9344", "affiliation": [ { "name": "Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil" } ], "authenticated-orcid": false, "family": "CAETANO", "given": "Rodrigo de Oliveira", "sequence": "additional" }, { "ORCID": "https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7640-2901", "affiliation": [ { "name": "Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil" } ], "authenticated-orcid": false, "family": "PEDRONI", "given": "Gabrielle", "sequence": "additional" }, { "ORCID": "https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2270-8934", "affiliation": [ { "name": "Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil" } ], "authenticated-orcid": false, "family": "FRIEDRICH", "given": "Stephanie Anagnostopoulos", "sequence": "additional" }, { "ORCID": "https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3054-4098", "affiliation": [ { "name": "Colgate-Palmolive Company, USA" } ], "authenticated-orcid": false, "family": "STEWART", "given": "Bernal", "sequence": "additional" }, { "ORCID": "https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0999-7217", "affiliation": [ { "name": "Colgate-Palmolive Company, USA" } ], "authenticated-orcid": false, "family": "MALHEIROS", "given": "Zilson", "sequence": "additional" }, { "ORCID": "https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8512-6176", "affiliation": [ { "name": "Latin American Oral Health Association, Brazil" } ], "authenticated-orcid": false, "family": "BENÍTEZ", "given": "Carlos", "sequence": "additional" }, { "ORCID": "https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6038-0634", "affiliation": [ { "name": "Colgate-Palmolive Company, USA" } ], "authenticated-orcid": false, "family": "SCHAEFFER", "given": "Lyndsay", "sequence": "additional" } ], "container-title": "Brazilian Oral Research", "container-title-short": "Braz. oral res.", "content-domain": { 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