Objective: To assess the effects of a mouthrinse containing chlorhexidine (CHX, 0.12%) and cetylpiridinium chloride (CPC, 0.05%) and no alcohol, in irradiated cancer patients. Material and Methods: Consecutive patients, irradiated as part of the therapy of head-and-neck cancer, were selected. Patients were orally assessed with regards to the presence and degree of mucositis (0-4), plaque and gingival (dichotomous) indices, amount and pH of saliva, and presence of different micro-organisms, including Candida sp. after culturing of mucosa, tongue and subgingival samples. Patients were randomised to use, twice per day, a test or s placebo mouthrinse, and were evaluated after 2 and 4 weeks. Groups were compared in the changes in outcome variables by means of non-parametric test, either chi-square for dichotomous variables in contingency tables, or Wilcoxon test. Results: A total of 36 consecutive patients (32 male and 4 female patients) were screened for inclusion. Among them, 31 patients completed the 2-weeks visit, and 26 the 4-weeks visit. Most patients developed mucositis in both groups, and no differences were detected between groups after 2 (p=0.35) or 4 weeks (p=0.69) or in the comparison 2-4 weeks (p=0.53). With regards to the degree of mucositis, no significant differences were detected, although the mean increase baseline-2 weeks was higher in the placebo group (1.81 versus 1.20). No differences were detected in other clinical variables, except a higher reduction baseline-2 weeks of plaque (p=0.06) and a lower level of gingival bleeding at 2 weeks (p=0.08), at sampled sites, both favoring the test group. The test group showed a higher reduction (p=0.09) in the amounts of Candida sp. baseline-4 weeks and 2 weeks-4 weeks in the mucosa sample. Conclusion: Within the limitations of the small sample size, this study suggests some improvements of clinical and microbiological parameters in patients irradiated for head-and-neck cancer. *Supported by Dentaid.

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