Dental care: The best, worst and unproven tools to care for your teeth


Date:
September 30, 2021
Source:
University at Buffalo
Summary:
Only a handful of oral hygiene tools actually prevent gum
disease. At the moment, all other tools are only supported by
insufficient evidence, say researchers.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
Do probiotics prevent gum disease? Is flossing necessary? Many patients
are unable to confidently answer these questions and more due to the
abundance of conflicting medical information. However, new research
led by the University at Buffalo aims to separate fact from fiction in determining which oral hygiene tools actually prevent gum disease.


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The paper, published in the October issue of the Journal of the
International Academy of Periodontology, examines the effectiveness of
various oral hygiene devices.

The result: Only a handful of self-administered interventions provide additional protection against gingivitis and periodontitis beyond
brushing one's teeth with a basic toothbrush. At the moment, all other
oral hygiene interventions are only supported by insufficient evidence,
says Frank Scannapieco, DMD, PhD, principal investigator and chair and professor of oral biology in the UB School of Dental Medicine.

The findings, he says, will help dental practitioners and the public
identify best practices for preventing gum disease, which affects
nearly half of adults 30 and older in the United States, according to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"Patients can be confident that the oral care tools and practices
supported by research, as described in the paper, will prevent the
initiation and progression of periodontal disease, if they are performed regularly and properly," says Scannapieco.

Additional investigators include Eva Volman, DDS, first author, UB
alumna and resident dentist at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health;
and Elizabeth Stellrecht, interim head of health sciences library services
at UB.



==========================================================================
"It is my hope that this piece consolidates the relevant evidence in
a way that is comprehensive, readable and uniquely helpful to all oral
health professionals as well as patients," says Volman.

The proven: basic toothbrush; interdental brush; water pick;
chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX), cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and
essential oil (Listerine) mouth rinses Tooth brushing is the cornerstone
of daily oral hygiene and is a reliable way to control dental plaque,
says Scannapieco. And according to the research, interdental brushes
and water picks performed better than other interdental oral hygiene
devices at reducing gingivitis, and both should be used in combination
with daily tooth brushing to prevent gum disease.

Among the numerous mouth rinses examined, those based on CHX, CPC,
and essential oils (such as Listerine) were proven to be effective at significantly reducing plaque and gingivitis.

While not effective at fighting gingivitis, toothpicks were useful for monitoring gum health, says Scannapieco. By gently prodding the gums with
a toothpick and monitoring for bleeding, patients could detect signs of
gum disease.



==========================================================================
The bad: triclosan Triclosan toothpastes and mouth rinses significantly
reduced plaque and gingivitis, however, the compound is linked
to the development of various types of cancers and reproductive
defects. Triclosan has been removed from most popular toothpastes in
the U.S.

The unproven: powered toothbrushes, dental floss, probiotics, dietary supplements and numerous mouth rinses Electric-powered toothbrushes
are no more effective at reducing plaque and gingivitis than a basic toothbrush, found the researchers. And little evidence has been published
in support of dental floss -- the mainstay of interdental cleaning --
to reduce plaque and gingivitis. But don't toss your floss just yet,
says Scannapieco, as flossing is beneficial.

"While there are few studies available that specifically examined
toothbrushes or floss alone, both are still essential. Floss is especially useful to remove interdental plaque for people who have tight space
between their teeth. Floss also likely reduces the risk for cavities
that from between the teeth," says Scannapieco.

The investigators found insufficient evidence that mouthwashes based on
tea tree oil, green tea, anti-inflammatory agents, hydrogen peroxide,
sodium benzoate, stannous fluoride, hexetidine or delmopinol reduced gingivitis.

The use of probiotics, although promising as a preventive strategy
against gum disease, is unproven. The researchers found little evidence
that supports the claim that dietary supplements improve gum health. The investigators also found insufficient evidence that professional plaque
removal (known as scaling, the process of removing plaque with a scraper) prevents gum disease.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_at_Buffalo. Original
written by Marcene Robinson. Note: Content may be edited for style
and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Eva I. Volman, Elizabeth Stellrecht and Frank A. Scannapieco. Proven
Primary Prevention Strategies for Plaque-Induced Periodontal
Disease - An Umbrella Review. ournal of the International Academy
of Periodontology, October 2021 Vol 23 Issue 4 [abstract] ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210930082417.htm

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