Monday, 17 February, 2025

01 Sep 2007 | Australasian Dental Practice

news > Spectrum > Page 14

The role of antiseptic mouthrinses for effective oral disease prevention

A consensus was reached amongst a panel of key opinion leaders from Australia and New Zealand regarding the use of antiseptic mouthrinses for improved oral health. This consensus was presented during the recent Australian Society of Periodontology conference in Sydney.


The panel recommended that an antiseptic mouthrinse should be used as a daily adjunct to mechanical cleaning.

"Dental plaque is a biofilm of complex microbial communities within microbial ecosystems of the oral cavity," said Associate Professor Christopher Sissons, Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, New Zealand. "Plaque, bacteria on the tongue and other areas of the mouth, the patient's mouth environment and patient behaviour interact to create a steady-state level of pathogenicity. The aim is to help patients maintain a healthy equilibrium."

"Dental plaque is the primary causative factor in the development of dental caries and periodontal diseases. Therefore, the use of a mouthwash with a proven antiplaque and antigingivitis capability would be a useful adjunct to mechanical disruption in the primary prevention of these diseases," said Professor Saso Ivanovski from Griffith University.

Dental products combining both fluoride and antimicrobial activity may be beneficial as reducing plaque could help the action of fluoride.

Daily, self-performed oral hygiene mechanical methods have been regarded as the first-line defense for control of supragingival plaque. However, the efficacy of this mechanical cleaning largely depends on technique and dexterity. On average, patients spend only 46 seconds brushing their teeth,1 while only 2-10% of the population floss regularly and effectively.2

"The efficacy of mechanical cleaning depends upon technique, motivation and perseverance. Unfortunately, most patients do not know the proper techniques in the use of interdental cleaning (e.g. flossing) and brushing to effectively control plaque. Not so surprising is that most patients report finding the mechanical techniques tedious and time consuming," said Terri Slough from the Dental Hygienists' Association of Australia Inc.

Dental health professionals can play a major role in improving the effectiveness of and compliance to home self-care by improving self-confidence and recommending a simple and effective homecare routine. A 2007 review suggested that a "...chemotherapeutic approach could be beneficial when used as an adjunct to daily, self-performed oral hygiene cleaning".3

Professor Laurie Walsh from the University of Queensland agreed, "Antiseptic oral mouthrinses are a useful general strategy to control gingivitis, since it can provide adjunctive benefits at sites where mechanical plaque control is challenging."

"Oral health problems are multifactorial," stated Professor Schwarz, University of Sydney, "In Australia and New Zealand, many factors contribute to a decline in dental health. Among them is an ageing population which requires ongoing maintenance and treatment, the inequality in access to regular dental care and of course the current shortage in the dental workforce."

The panel of experts agreed that there is a lack of awareness of preventive measures among the general population.

The following consensus was agreed on:

  1. Most people are unable to maintain effective levels of plaque control with mechanical means alone, especially interdentally;
  2. There is scientific rationale for the use of antiplaque and antigingivitis agents for the control of biofilms throughout the whole mouth; and
  3. Primary prevention of gingivitis should encompass the daily use of an antiseptic mouthrinse as an adjunct to mechanical cleaning.

Members of ANZ Scientific Oral Health Advisory Panel (ANZSOHAP) included Albert Tan (Princess Margaret Hospital, Perth); Chris Sissons (Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences); Eli Schwarz (University of Sydney); Eric Reynolds (University of Melbourne); Laurie Walsh (University of Queensland); Saso Ivanovski (Griffith University, Queensland); and Terri Slough (Dental Hygienists' Association of Australia Inc).

References

  1. Beals D et al. Am J Dent 2000; 13: 5A-14A.
  2. Bader H. Dent Today 1998: 17: 78-81.
  3. Stoeken JE et al. J Periodontol 2007:78: 1218-1228.

Clinical

Staying Safe

Techniques

Clinical

Stream the latest dental videos...
Expert talk: Freedom in movement

Sponsored Links...

Upcoming Events...

Jan 01 2025
Feb 18 2025

Siberian Dental Forum 2025

Krasnoyarsk, RUSSIA

Feb 27 2025

Maximising Recall Compliance

Live Online, AUSTRALIA

Feb 28 2025
Mar 04 2025
Mar 12 2025
Mar 15 2025
Mar 18 2025

TRIOS Café Webinar - A-Z Cosmetic Workflow with TRIOS

Australia & New Zealand, AUSTRALIA

Mar 19 2025

ITI Congress Colombia

Bogota, COLOMBIA

Mar 21 2025
Mar 21 2025

ITI Congress UK & Ireland

Birmingham, UNITED KINGDOM

Mar 22 2025
Mar 24 2025
Mar 25 2025

IDS 2025

Cologne, GERMANY

Mar 29 2025
Apr 02 2025
Apr 10 2025
Apr 12 2025

ITI Congress Southern Africa

Cape Town, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

Apr 15 2025
Apr 15 2025
Apr 17 2025

Dental Forum 2025

London, UNITED KINGDOM

May 01 2025
May 08 2025

PNDC 2025

Seattle, USA

May 08 2025
May 08 2025

TDA Meeting 2025

San Antonio, USA

May 12 2025
May 14 2025
May 15 2025

NCDS 2025

Myrtle Beach, USA

May 16 2025

BDA 2025

Birmingham, UNITED KINGDOM

May 20 2025

GalMED 2025

Lviv, UKRAINE

May 21 2025

Dentima Krasnodar 2025

Krasnodar, RUSSIA

May 22 2025

C.O Life Summit

Barranquilla, COLOMBIA

May 22 2025

ICOMS 2025

Singapore, SINGAPORE

May 23 2025

Famdent Show Mumbai 2025

Mumbai, INDIA

May 26 2025
May 28 2025
May 28 2025

Buldental - Bulmedica 2025

Sofia, BULGARIA

May 29 2025

CUSCO 2025

Urubamba, PERU

May 30 2025
Jun 07 2025
Jun 09 2025
Jun 10 2025

PACK EXPO Southeast 2025

Guadalajara, MEXICO

Jun 11 2025
Jun 20 2025

Scottish Dental Show 2025

Glasgow, UNITED KINGDOM

Jun 21 2025
Jun 25 2025
Jun 27 2025

ICOI Asia Pacific Congress 2025

Deagu, KOREA, SOUTH

Jul 22 2025
Aug 01 2025
Aug 07 2025
Aug 07 2025

IndoHealthcare Expo 2025

Jakarta, INDONESIA

Aug 22 2025

HKIDEAS 2025

Hong Kong, HONG KONG

Aug 28 2025

ABSO Meeting 2025

Hamilton Island, AUSTRALIA

Sep 03 2025

AAPD 2025

Kuta, INDONESIA

Sep 09 2025
Sep 12 2025
Sep 13 2025
Sep 17 2025

PharMed Cambodia 2025

Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA

Sep 19 2025
Sep 20 2025
Sep 25 2025
Sep 29 2025

PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2025

Las Vegas, USA

Oct 02 2025

IAO 2025

Padova, ITALY

Oct 02 2025

ITI Congress Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL

Oct 09 2025

Pragodent 2025

Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC

Oct 15 2025
Oct 16 2025
Oct 16 2025

DDS Global Congress 2025

Venice, ITALY

Oct 16 2025

ADOHTA-DHAA 2025 National Congress

Gold Coast, AUSTRALIA

Oct 24 2025
Nov 05 2025

ITI Congress Mexico

Mérida, MEXICO

Nov 06 2025
Nov 07 2025

ITI Congress Italy

Bologna, ITALY

Nov 08 2025

CDSS 2025

Singapore, SINGAPORE

Nov 14 2025

IDEC 2025

Jakarta, INDONESIA

Nov 20 2025
Nov 28 2025
Dec 05 2025

8th Dental Expo 2025

Lahore, PAKISTAN

Mar 20 2026
Apr 17 2026

IDEM Singapore 2026

Singapore, SINGAPORE

Nov 27 2026
Nov 26 2027
Nov 24 2028