Are Patients Missing a Step in Their Hygiene?

Reducing biofilm begins with the right at-home regimen

Kristin Sheridan

Question: Are your patients missing a step in their hygiene? You are likely thinking yes and that the answer is flossing. Honestly, no one could disagree with you. After all, many studies report that only about 30% of adults floss their teeth. But this question is about something else. Are your patients using mouthrinse? A therapeutic mouthrinse? If not, then they may be missing an important part of their homecare routine. Brushing and flossing are great, but they only mechanically remove biofilm. A professional mouthrinse can break up and prevent a patient's mouth from producing more biofilm.

Control of Biofilm is the Key to a Healthy Mouth

One of the main reasons patients should be using a rinse is to reduce oral biofilm (Figure 1). Oral biofilm microorganisms and their byproducts have been linked to several aspects of systemic health. These include rheumatoid arthritis; diabetes; lung conditions; and prostate, colon, and pancreatic cancers. They also include erectile dysfunction, Alzheimer's disease, and premature birth. In the oral cavity, biofilm has a major role in many oral diseases, such as dental caries and periodontal disease. Biofilm can be found in easy-to-reach places like the surfaces of the teeth and in tough-to-remove areas like the gingival sulcus. Brushing and flossing can reduce biofilm, but both rely on the patient's ability to mechanically remove it. Many patients do not do a good job at this. Rinses can reduce biofilm as much as 300% more than brushing alone.

OTC vs Professional Rinses

There are choices when it comes to rinses. There are many over-the-counter products available, but these rinses are not as effective as we would like them to be and therefore aren't the first choice of many dental professionals.

There are fewer professional rinses to choose from, but these offer increased effectiveness. The first option is chlorhexidine, which we know is effective for killing bacteria but does not break up biofilm and comes with staining, calculus buildup, and only can be used for two weeks. Chlorexidine also inhibits fibroblast, which can delay healing. Then there is OraCare, which is a replacement for chlorhexidine. It kills the same bacteria and provides the additional benefits of reducing fungi and viruses, neutralizing VSCs, and breaking up biofilm. Another benefit of OraCare is that patients can use it every day and it does not stain or create additional calculus buildup. It can help the healing process because of the elimination of the oxygen-starving VSCs. A recent study by Salus research concluded that OraCare increases gingival health by 604% versus brushing alone.

Better Together

Obviously oral homecare is a challenge for many patients, with close to 50% of all adults having gum disease. Adding an easy-to-use therapeutic rinse may be the answer to this problem. So, the next time you want to educate patients on brushing and flossing, think about discussing a rinse with them as well. The combination of mechanical and therapeutic implementation can yield great results. Rinsing may be the missing step that can lead patients down a path of better oral health.