• Home oral care recommendations are based on data from clinical studies and systematic reviews.

• While general recommendations may adequately address the needs for many patients, a dentist may tailor home oral care recommendations to fit the individual patient’s needs and wants, focusing on a personalized approach to treatment and prevention.

• Home oral care is an important contributor to oral health maintenance and can help lessen the need for extensive dental intervention in the future.

 

Spending the right amount of time engaged in appropriate home oral care is undoubtedly essential to helping minimize the risk of caries and periodontal disease.

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An individual who visits the dentist twice a year for an oral exam and dental prophylaxis will spend approximately two hours per year in the dental chair. The time for that same person to brush and clean between his or her teeth each day might be estimated to be around 30 hours per year.

 

Considering the amount of time that should be devoted to daily oral hygiene, it is important to understand the scientific evidence that supports home oral care recommendations made to patients.