Prescribing and Oral Therapeutics & Medicines

Question 1

What antimicrobial activity does chlorhexidine have ?

Answer 1

Antibacterial and antifungal.

Question 2

What prescription would you prescribe for chlorhexidine gluconate mouth rinse ?

Answer 2

Chlorhexidine gluconate mouthrinse 10ml 2x daily (until symptoms subside).

Question 3

What patient advice would you give when prescribing chlorhexidine gluconate ?

Answer 3

Hold in mouth for 1 minute.
Wait 30-60 minutes after to eat or drink.
Spit and don’t rinse.

Question 4

What is the mechanism of action for chlorhexidine on oral bacteria and fungi ?

Answer 4

It is positively charged and binds to negative charges phosphate groups on bacterial and fungal cell walls.
This destabilises cell wall and disrupts osmosis causing leakage of cell contents.
Resulting in cell death - fungicidal and bactericidal.

Question 5

What are the three contraindications of chlorhexidine ?

Answer 5

<6 years old.
Xerostomia.
Hypersensitivity.

Question 6

What are the four main side effects of chlorhexidine ?

Answer 6

Staining of teeth.
Xerostomia.
Reduced taste sensation.
Oral irritation.