Importance of teeth and tongue as possible receptor sites for chlorhexidine in relation to its clinical effect.

Teeth have previously been shown not to be of any major importance when quantitatively measuring the retention of chlorhexidine in the oral cavity. Only a few studies have examined the significance of the binding of chlorhexidine to the tongue in relation to its plaque inhibiting effect. The present study was therefore carried out to further examine these possible chlorhexidine receptor sites in the oral cavity in relation to its known antibacterial effect at the teeth surface. Two daily applications of chlorhexidine on the teeth in the right side of the maxilla, against a contralateral water control, both in combination with a sucrose challenge six times daily, showed no significant reduction of plaque formation when compared to an application of sucrose used alone. Two daily applications of chlorhexidine on the tongue, again combined with sucrose challenge, also showed no significant plaque inhibiting effect. The results obtained indicate that neither the teeth nor the tongue seem to be of major importance as receptor sites for chlorhexidine in the oral cavity as related to its observed clinical effect.