A Natural Approach to Faster Healing

Early last year, Dr. Irene Renieris decided it was time to find an alternative to chlorhexidine. A general dentist in Chicago, she wanted a more natural option that could provide relief to patients dealing with mouth sores or experiencing pain after scaling and root planing (SRP). When she came across OraSoothe Oral Coating Rinses at the Chicago Midwinter Meeting, she knew it was something she had to try.

She liked that both the Hygiene and Professional versions of the rinse contain “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) ingredients, such as cinnamon, clove, and thyme, instead of the dyes found in other products. It also tastes great—which Dr. Renieris said is in stark contrast to the unpleasant taste that chlorhexidine can leave in one’s mouth for days—and does not stain teeth. Further, the rinses are from Septodont, a company that Dr. Renieris knows and trusts, and she’s able to purchase them from her dental supplier, making them easy to integrate into her practice.

Before trying it with her patients, Dr. Renieris used OraSoothe to treat her own mouth sores and was impressed with the results. “I thought, ‘OK, this is powerful,’” she recalled. “It’s more of a holistic approach, coating the wound and making it feel better.” 

Safe and Effective

Many clinicians are moving away from chlorhexidine, Dr. Renieris said, because of its various downsides. In addition to the poor taste and common side effects such as teeth staining, it kills both bad and good bacteria.

“We felt like it was just too strong of a product,” Dr. Renieris said of chlorhexidine. “Even periodontists have gotten away from using it and say they prefer we don’t use it on patients, so we started looking for an alternative.”

Because OraSoothe is natural, the product does not kill good bacteria, which Dr. Renieris said is critical. And unlike chlorhexidine, the affordable rinses have a pleasant taste and no risk of staining. The natural ingredients help wounds heal faster while also efficiently managing pain.

It’s Like a 'Big Hug'

“It’s advertised as a hydrogel wound dressing and that’s literally what it does,” Dr. Renieris said. “The clove, the wintergreen, the cinnamon all naturally inhibit bacterial growth, helping wounds heal quicker. And when there’s bacteria in a site, it causes inflammation and pain. OraSoothe covers it, like it’s giving the wound a big hug.”

OraSoothe is safe to swallow and can be used by every patient, even children, Dr. Renieris said, adding that it also is an affordable alternative to chlorhexidine. It has made a big difference in helping her patients both manage pain and heal after SRP procedures, and to get relief from painful mouth sores.

“Knowing the product works and that it comes from a trusted company just makes it easy,” she said. “People are trying to get away from synthetic stuff and chemicals, and this is just a great natural rinse with no dyes that everybody can use. It’s just an overall great product.”