Chlorhexidine (Gluconate Oral Rinse, 0.12%)

Chlorhexidine is commonly used as an adjunctive therapy along with Scaling and Root Planing procedure.  The microbial effect of the rinse decreases the bacterial loads in the mouth while reducing gingival inflammation.  The common side effects caused by using Chlorhexidine are temporary loss of taste, teeth staining and increased supragingival calculus build-up.  

Adjunctive effect of chlorhexidine antiseptics in mechanical periodontal treatment: first results of a preliminary case studies. International Journal of Dental Hygiene. 2012
This study supports the use of Chlorhexidine rinse in conjunction with the mechanical periodontal therapy.  Overal pocket depths were decreased in both patient groups whether they used the rinse or not.  However, bleeding on probing and total bacterial counts were significantly lower in patients used chlorhexidine rinse.

Rinsing with alcohol-free or alcohol-based chlorhexidine solutions after periodontal surgery. Swedish Dental Journal. 2012
This study concluded that both the alcohol-free and alcohol-based chlorhexidine rinse showed the same plaque inhibitory effect in periodontal patients after periodontal surgery.