Effect of mouth cleaning with hinokitiol-containing gel on oral malodor: a randomized, open-label pilot study

Aim The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of mouth cleaning with hinokitiol-containing gel on oral malodor. Methods An open-label, randomized, controlled trial was conducted to assess oral malodor and clinical parameters related to oral malodor before and after mouth cleaning with hinokitiol-containing gel ( n  = 9) or with gel not including hinokitiol ( n  = 9). Mouth cleaning included the teeth, gingiva, and tongue and was carried out 3 times per day for 4 weeks. Results Organoleptic test (OLT) scores ( P  = .021), levels of hydrogen sulfide ( P  = .008) and methyl mercaptan ( P  = .020), frequency of bleeding on probing, average probing pocket depth, and plaque index significantly improved in the group using hinokitiol. In contrast, only the OLT score ( P  = .031) significantly improved in the control group after the treatment regimen. Conclusion Mouth cleaning with hinokitiol-containing gel may be effective for reduction of oral malodor.