TNF and periodontitis: IL-6 is known to promote the expression and transcription of various inflammatory factors, exacerbating local inflammation, whereas IL-10 has anti-inflammatory properties that can ameliorate the clinical symptoms of periodontitis.9 Research on the use of cetylpyridinium chloride in patients with periodontitis1 has indicated that this intervention can reduce levels of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and MMP-9 in the gingival sulcus, corroborating the findings of this study.