Effectiveness of Mouth Rinsing versus Ingesting Pickle Juice for Alleviating Electrically Induced Cramp in Physically Active Adults

(1) Background: Stimulating oropharyngeal transient receptor potential (TRP) channels inhibits muscle cramping by triggering a supraspinal reflex to reduce α-motor neuron hyperexcitability. This study investigated whether the longer stimulation of the TRP channels via mouth rinsing with PJ is more effective than drinking PJ at inhibiting an electrically induced muscle cramp (EIMC). Both conditions were compared to the control (water). (2) Methods: The tibial nerves in 11 cramp-prone adults were percutaneously stimulated to elicit an EIMC of the flexor hallucis brevis in three trials that took place one week apart from each other. At cramp onset, the participants received mouth rinsing and expelling PJ (25 mL), ingesting PJ (1 mL∙kg−1 body-mass (BM)), or ingesting water (1 mL∙kg−1 BM). Cramp onset and offset were induced by electromyography, and the severity of discomfort was recorded using a visual analogue scale (VAS). (3) Results: The median time to cramp cessation as a percentage of water was 82.8 ± 14.63% and 68.6 ± 47.78% for PJ ingestion and PJ mouth rinsing, respectively. These results had large variability, and no statistically significant differences were observed. There were also no differences in perceived cramp discomfort between conditions, despite the hazard ratios for the time taken to reach VAS = 0, which was higher than water (control) for PJ ingestion (22%) and mouth rinsing (35%) (p = 0.66 and 0.51, respectively). (4) Conclusions: The data suggest no difference in cramp duration and perceived discomfort between PJ and water.

Antibacterial Efficacy of Mouth Rinsing With 0.4% Syzygium Cumini Leaf Extract Against Streptococcus Mutans: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Syzygium cumini leaf extract possess a range of pharmacological properties such as anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcerogenic, cardioprotective, antidiarrheal, antimicrobial, antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities. Objective of the study was to evaluate and compare the antibacterial efficacy of 0.4% Syzygium cumini leaf extract and 0.2% chlorhexidine containing mouthwashes on salivary Streptococcus mutans among children aged 7-8 years in a hospital setting. Methods: Twenty-four school children aged 7-8 years, fulfilling the eligibility criteria, were randomized into two groups. Group 1: received 0.4% S. cumini leaf extract mouth wash and Group 2: received 0.2% chlorhexidine mouth wash. Saliva samples of the children were collected before and one hour after mouth rinsing with 10 ml of interventional mouthwash, for S. mutans count analysis. Results: The results of the study showed that there was significant reduction in salivary S. mutans counts in both the groups post mouth rinsing with interventional solutions (p=0.002). However, intergroup comparison reveled that in Chlorhexidine group there was significantly more reduction in Salivary S mutans counts compared to Syzygium cumini mouth rinsing group. (p=0.03) Conclusion: There was reduction in salivary S mutans counts after mouth rinsing with Syzygium cumini leaf extract. Hence, Syzygium cumini leaf extract mouthwash could be an effective aid for prevention and control of dental caries since it is safe, culturally acceptable and feasible.

Efficacy of a Zinc Lactate Mouthwash and Tongue Scraping in the Reduction of Oral Halitosis: A Single-Blind, Controlled, Crossover Clinical Trial—A Pilot Study

Halitosis is defined as an unpleasant odor that comes out of the mouth. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of zinc lactate mouthwash and tongue scraping on oral halitosis. The study was conducted on 60 volunteers that were divided into two groups and followed two types of 14-day oral hygiene protocols on a cross-over basis after a 7-day wash-out period. One protocol was based on tooth brushing only, while the other was based on additional mouth rinsing with a zinc lactate product and tongue scraping. Morning mouth breath was assessed organoleptic and by volatile sulfur compound concentrations. The highest mean organoleptic and volatile sulfur compound measurement values were found in the tooth brushing without mouth washing and tongue scraping oral hygiene protocol (p < 0.05). The zinc lactate mouthwash combined with tongue scraping appears to be an important hygienic procedure to reduce breath odor.

Effects of carbohydrate and caffeine mouth rinsing on strength, muscular endurance and cognitive performance

Background Carbohydrate (CHO) and caffeine (CAF) mouth rinsing have been shown to enhance endurance and sprint performance. However, the effects of CHO and CAF mouth rinsing on muscular and cognitive performance in comparison between male and female athletes are less well-established. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of CHO and CAF rinsing on squat and bench press 1 repetition maximum (1-RM) strength, 3 sets of 40% of 1-RM muscular endurance and cognitive performance in both male and female athletes. Methods Thirteen male and fourteen female resistance-trained participants completed four testing sessions following the rinsing of 25 ml of i) 6% of CHO (1.5 g); ii) 2% CAF (500 mg), iii) combined CHO and CAF (CHOCAF) solutions or iv) water (PLA) for 10 s. Heart rate (HR), felt arousal (FA), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and glucose (GLU) were recorded throughout the test protocol. Results There were no significant differences in squat and bench press 1-RM, HR, RPE and GLU (p > 0.05) for males and females, respectively. FA was significantly increased with CAF (p = 0.04, p = 0.01) and CHOCAF (p = 0.03, p = 0.01) condition in both males and females, respectively. Squat endurance performance in the first set was significantly increased with CHOCAF condition compared to PLA in both males (p = 0.01) and females (p = 0.02). Bench press endurance was similar for all conditions in both genders (p > 0.05). Cognitive performance was significantly increased with CHOCAF compared to PLA in males (p = 0.03) and females (p = 0.02). Conclusion Combined CHO and CAF mouth rinsing significantly improved lower body muscular endurance and cognitive performance in both males and females.

The role of mouthwash sampling in SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis

Background The current practice of COVID 19 diagnosis worldwide is the use of oro nasopharyngeal (ONP) swabs. Our study aim was to explore mouthwash (MW) as an alternative diagnostic method, in light of the disadvantages of ONP swabs. Methods Covid-19 outpatients molecular confirmed by ONP swab were repeatedly examined with ONP swab and MW with normal saline (0.9%). Other types of fluids were compared to normal saline. The Cq values obtained with each method were compared. Results Among 137 pairs of ONP swabs and MW samples, 84.6% (116/137) of ONP swabs were positive by at least one of the genes (N, E, R). However MW detected 70.8% (97/137) of samples as positive, which means 83.6% (97/116) out of positive ONP swabs, missing mainly Cq value>30. In both methods, the N gene was the most sensitive one. Therefore MW samples targeting N gene, which was positive in 95/137 (69.3%), is comparable to ONP-swabs targeting E and R genes which gave equal results; 95/137 (69.3%) and 90/137 (65.7%) respectively. Comparing saline MW to distilled water gave equal results, while commercial mouth-rinsing solutions were less sensitive. Conclusions MW with normal saline, especially when tested by N gene, can effectively detect COVID 19 patients. Furthermore, this method was not inferior when compared to R and E genes of ONP swabs, which are common targets in many laboratories around the world.