A recent event hosted by Kenvue brought together key figures from the British Society of Periodontology, the Oral Health Foundation, the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy, and the British Association of Dental Therapists. The meeting included clinicians, academics, and opinion leaders to discuss advances in dental plaque biofilm management.
Professor Iain Chapple opened the discussion by stating: “We’re here today to assimilate the latest evidence from the S3-level guidelines, the Delivering Better Oral Health (DBOH) toolkit, and other sources that have changed our understanding of dental plaque biofilm-mediated diseases like periodontitis and caries.
"There are still many misunderstandings within the practising community, so we have brought national society leaders together to clarify the evidence and explore how we cascade this evidence consistently across the profession.”
The group developed a consensus emphasizing that oral diseases linked to dental plaque biofilm are preventable. The statement highlighted that preventing oral disease requires both broad public health approaches and personalized advice throughout life stages such as birth, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and assisted living. Effective self-care remains important for preventing dental caries and gingivitis.
Mechanical removal of plaque with fluoride toothpaste is described as essential for controlling dental plaque biofilm. However, many people cannot reach levels sufficient to stabilize gum inflammation or prevent cavities. In these cases, additional methods should be considered. These include mouthrinses with chemical agents like chlorhexidine, essential oils, cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), as well as fluoride for its role in tooth mineralization.
The consensus also referred to updates in guidance for adults using fluoride toothpaste: "spit don’t rinse with water" after brushing. For antimicrobial mouthrinses containing fluoride, it is recommended to spit out after use; rinsing with a mouthrinse containing at least 225ppm fluoride after brushing can help maintain salivary fluoride levels for cavity prevention. For periodontal care specifically, using an antimicrobial fluoride-containing mouthrinse after brushing is advised; for cavity management, a separate time during the day is suggested for using a fluoride mouthrinse.
KOLs from clinical practice, academia, and national associations contributed to this consensus.
Bas Vorsteveld, Area Managing Director for Northern Europe at Kenvue said: "Kenvue is proud to support the advancement of oral healthcare through scientific collaboration, accessible education and clinical partnership. This latest consensus forms part of an ongoing programme to promote best practice and improve patient outcomes across the UK."
The event’s discussions referenced global strategies on oral health set out by organizations such as the World Health Organization as well as guidance provided by UK health authorities including the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities.
