Get your patient on Periogard Alcohol Free - Chlorhexidine Gluconate rinse (Chlorhexidine Gluconate)

PerioGard® (Chlorhexidine Gluconate Oral Rinse USP, 0.12%) is indicated for use between dental visits as part of a professional program for the treatment of gingivitis as characterized by redness and swelling of the gingivae, including gingival bleeding upon probing. PerioGard® has not been tested among patients with acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG). For patients having coexisting gingivitis and periodontitis, see PRECAUTIONS .

PerioGard® (Chlorhexidine Gluconate Oral Rinse USP, 0.12%) therapy should be initiated directly following a dental prophylaxis. Patients using PerioGard® should be reevaluated and given a thorough prophylaxis at intervals no longer than six months. Recommended use is twice daily oral rinsing for 30 seconds, morning and evening after toothbrushing. Usual dosage is 1/2 fl. oz. ("15 mL" line in dosage cap) of undiluted PerioGard®. Patients should be instructed not to rinse with water or other mouthwashes, brush teeth, or eat immediately after using PerioGard®. PerioGard® is not intended for ingestion and should be expectorated after rinsing.

PerioGard® should not be used by persons who are known to be hypersensitive to chlorhexidine gluconate or other formula ingredients.

The most common side effects associated with chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse USP, 0.12% are: (1) an increase in staining of teeth and other oral surfaces, (2) an increase in calculus formation, and (3) an alteration in taste perception; see WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS . Oral irritation and local allergy-type symptoms have been spontaneously reported as side effects associated with use of chlorhexidine gluconate rinse. The following oral mucosal side effects were reported during placebo-controlled adult clinical trials: aphthous ulcer, grossly obvious gingivitis, trauma, ulceration, erythema, desquamation, coated tongue, keratinization, geographic tongue, mucocele, and short frenum. Each occurred at a frequency of less than 1.0%.

Among postmarketing reports, the most frequently reported oral mucosal symptoms associated with chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse USP, 0.12% are stomatitis, gingivitis, glossitis, ulcer, dry mouth, hypesthesia, glossal edema, and paresthesia.

Minor irritation and superficial desquamation of the oral mucosa have been noted in patients using chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse.

There have been cases of parotid gland swelling and inflammation of the salivary glands (sialadenitis) reported in patients using chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse.

PerioGard® (Chlorhexidine Gluconate Oral rinse USP, 0.12%) is an oral rinse containing 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate (1,1'-hexamethylene bis [5-(p-chlorophenyl) biguanide] di-D-gluconate) in a base containing water, propylene glycol, glycerin, sorbitol, polyoxyl 40 hydrogenated castor oil, flavor, cetylpyridinium chloride, and FD&C blue no. 1. PerioGard® product is a near neutral solution (pH range 5-7). Chlorhexidine gluconate is a salt of chlorhexidine and gluconic acid. Its chemical structure is:

PerioGard® (Chlorhexidine Gluconate Oral Rinse USP, 0.12%) provides antimicrobial activity during oral rinsing. The clinical significance of chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse's antimicrobial activities is not clear. Microbiological sampling of plaque has shown a general reduction of counts of certain assayed bacteria, both aerobic and anaerobic, ranging from 54-97% through six months' use.

Use of chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse USP, 0.12% in a six-month clinical study did not result in any significant changes in bacterial resistance, overgrowth of potentially opportunistic organisms or other adverse changes in the oral microbial ecosystem. Three months after chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse USP, 0.12% use was discontinued, the number of bacteria in plaque had returned to baseline levels and resistance of plaque bacteria to chlorhexidine gluconate was equal to that at baseline.

PerioGard® is supplied as a blue liquid in a 16-fluid ounce (473 mL) (NDC 0126-0282-16) amber plastic bottle with child-resistant dosage cap.