amoxicillin + metronidazole + chlorhexidine

"Oral antibiotic + oral rinse" refers to a specific antimicrobial combination regimen investigated by Augusta University for the treatment of chronic periodontitis. This regimen consists of two systemic antibiotics, amoxicillin (a beta-lactam) and metronidazole (a nitroimidazole), administered orally, alongside a topical chlorhexidine antiseptic oral rinse. Amoxicillin works by inhibiting penicillin-binding proteins, thereby disrupting bacterial cell wall synthesis. Metronidazole is a prodrug that, upon reduction in anaerobic bacteria, forms reactive intermediates that cause DNA strand breakage. Chlorhexidine is a broad-spectrum antiseptic that disrupts microbial cell membranes. This triple-combination approach is used as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) to reduce the bacterial load and modulate the systemic inflammatory response, specifically targeting the activation of blood myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and the Treg-Th17 balance.

Other names

oral antibiotic + oral rinse