Bacterial comparison of preoperative rinsing and swabbing for oral surgery using 0.2% chlorhexidine

<b>Aim</b>\ud \ud The aim of the present study was to compare bacterial load using preoperative rinsing and swabbing techniques for oral surgery with 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX).\ud \ud <b>Methods</b>\ud \ud Participants were healthy volunteers undergoing a general anesthetic for the removal of teeth. Participants were randomly allocated to receive 15 mL of 0.2% CHX for 60 s as either a rinse or have their mouths swabbed. Plaque samples were aseptically collected pre- and post-rinsing from the same sites in all patients (the distal surface of all second molar teeth).\ud \ud <b>Results</b>\ud \ud Patients in the swab group had similar bacteria counts before and after the application of CHX (143.4 vs 138.5 colonies, P = 1.000). After rinsing with CHX, there was an eightfold reduction of bacterial load (71 vs 8.8 colonies, P < 0.001).\ud \ud <b>Conclusion</b>\ud \ud The present study demonstrates that the use of CHX as an antimicrobial agent is effective in reducing the overall number of bacterial colonies in the oral cavity. Rinsing is a more effective method of doing this