A new prescription mouth rinse that creates a barrier to keep bacteria from attaching to teeth won U.S. approval on Monday for treating the gum disease gingivitis. British biotech company Sinclair Pharma Plc's Decapinol Oral Rinse was cleared for use by people age 12 and older when normal oral hygiene has failed to prevent gingivitis, the Food and Drug Administration said. Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums that afflicts most adults at some point in their lives. Scientists believe bacteria that cause plaque build-up on teeth are a cause of the problem. The new rinse reduces the number of plaque-forming bacteria that stick to tooth surfaces. Older rinses fight gingivitis by killing bacteria in the mouth. In studies, Decapinol with brushing and flossing decreased gingivitis 60 percent more than no treatment, the FDA said. --SP 2325 Local Time 2025 GMT
