GUM Paroex Chlorhexidine Gluconate Oral Rinse USP, 0.12%, is the only Food & Drug Administration approved alcohol-free chlorhexidine rinse. Studies have shown that alcohol-free mouth rinses are as effective as alcohol-containing rinses in reducing plaque.
It has been found that rinsing with chlorhexidine gluconate has an antimicrobial 
effect. As with all chlorhexidine rinses, the clinical significance of GUM Paroex’s antimicrobial activities is not clear, but it has been shown that rinsing with it for 6 months results in a general reduction of some bacteria, and that 3 months after subjects stopped using it, they were back to baseline levels. GUM Paroex is indicated for patients with gingivitis to use in between prophylactic visits, at 6-month intervals max. The regimen is easy—rinse twice a day for 30 seconds, after eating so food taste isn’t altered, and after brushing and flossing your teeth. Patients are advised not to rinse with water after using GUM Paroex for obvious reasons, but interestingly, also because about 30% of it stays in the oral cavity and is retained and slowly released. For short-term use, the new 4-oz bottle should be adequate. For longer term use, a 16-oz bottle is available.
GUM Paroex gives dentists and hygienists another option when an effective gingivitis treatment is needed for patients who should not use alcohol-containing products—whether it’s because they prefer not to, object to the taste, or have health reasons. And for this reason, it just might result in improved patient compliance.
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