What is the difference between Maxi/Guard Oral Gel and the chlorhexidine rinses?
Most chlorhexidine oral preparations are excellent rinses. They are highly appropriate for clinical use or a short interval post-surgery or post dental prophy (2 weeks?). Chlorhexidine is a disinfectant chemical. It kills all bacteria and therefore should be used as a rinse and not ingested daily for an unlimited time as in home use. Chlorhexidine’s drawback as a home care product further includes its well known characteristic for staining tooth enamel and having a bitter taste (poor pet acceptance), and paradoxically increasing the rate of mineralization of plague (calculus formation). MAXI/GUARD is a natural compound, not a synthetic chemical. It is not only safe for daily home oral care of pets, it is ideal since it does not destroy all the digestive flora, stain teeth, or taste bitter with proper use. Remember zinc ascorbate was developed to stimulate collagen (foster gingival tissue recovery) whereas chlorhexidine is a disinfectant.
