If plaque isn’t removed from the areas of the teeth that don’t clean themselves naturally (such as the gumline and between the teeth) within 24 hours, gingivitis can develop. Improper mechanical cleaning of the teeth, even when done regularly, can also lead to inflammation and dental problems.
Semmelweis University looked at how individualized oral hygiene devices, coupled with education, help prevent dental disease among patients with dental problems.
The study involved 102 adult patients divided into groups based on their oral health condition (gingivitis or periodontal disease) and brushing habits.
The participants included users of electric and manual toothbrushes, interdental brushes and flosses as well as people using personalized devices following an individualized protocol were included. The researchers also observed how using devices without being provided with detailed instruction and knowledge on a regular basis affects the outcome.
To gauge progress, the researchers used four chair-side diagnostic indices: two traditional – full mouth plaque score (FMPS) and full mouth bleeding score (FMBS) – and two more recent ones: bleeding on brushing (BOB) and chair-side matrix-metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), an enzyme in saliva. Of the four, BOB and MMP-8 proved most effective in detecting inflammation in an early phase. Conventional measures, such as periodontal probes, can only detect inflammation when clinical signs have become visible.
As most bacteria accumulate in the interproximal areas, proper cleaning of these spaces is key to oral health. Over-the-counter interdental brushes or flosses often fail to deliver, hence the need for personalized devices, the authors note.
Patients were followed for 12 weeks and up to 2 years with regular check-ups.
Over the 12-week period, patients who received education and used individualized cleaning devices experienced a reduction in inflammation and periodontal disease at a faster pace – in two weeks.
Other subgroups achieved significant reductions only after 12 weeks.
A dental hygiene concept tailored to the individual combined with the use of custom devices can reduce and reverse gingival inflammation. It also slows down tissue breakdown and loss
, says first author Fanni Simon, dentist at the Department of Public Dental Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Semmelweis University.
To maintain oral health in the long term, the researchers emphasize the importance of regular consultations with dentists and dental hygiene experts.
Chair-side methods such as BOP and MMP-8 as well as education help raise patients’ ‘disease awareness’ and dental IQ
, says Orsolya Németh, director of the Department of Public Dental Health, Faculty of Dentistry, Semmelweis University, corresponding author of the study.
These measures can easily be integrated into a clinical setting and serve as early diagnostic tools to assess oral hygiene and periodontal status, which, together with adherence to a tailored regimen and regular professional supervision can help reduce the burden of periodontitis, the study concludes.
Illustration: iStock
