Dental plaque control strategies for the elderly population: A scoping review

Abstract

Objective: To review the scientific literature and identify dental plaque control strategies focussed on elderly people that improve plaque indices. Design: Scoping review (Joanna Briggs protocol).Data sources: Individual search strategies developed for six databases. The selection of the manuscripts in two phases: title and abstract review, and complete review. Eligibility criteria: Studies on interventions for plaque control in elderly people (60y+).Epidemiological studies and those focussed on caregivers, health professionals and periodontal maintenance therapies were excluded. Results:The initial search yielded 2803 studies, 26 were included. The results were classified into: exclusively chemical (10), educational (9), exclusively mechanical (6), and combined mechanical and chemical (1). The studies reported different types of interventions: sugarless chewing gum, chlorhexidine (CHX) in different preparations and concentrations, mouthwash based on essential oils, stannous/sodium fluoride dentifrice and lactoferrin/lactoperoxidase tablets. Additionally, conventional and alternative toothbrushes and professional brushing were tested. Educational interventions included oral hygiene guidance, verbal information, and demonstrations of dental and denture cleaning procedures, and lifestyle changes. Many studies have reported strategies that improve dental plaque indices but without statistical significance when compared to control groups. Promising results were found with the use of CHX, sugarless chewing gum, professional brushing and educational strategies with demonstration, but the results were not long-lasting. Conclusion:The literature reports that mechanical, chemical and educational strategies have some efficacy in dental plaque control in the elderly population. The results should be viewed with caution, considering the type of intervention (isolated or combined) and the maintenance of the results obtained.

Oral health care of hospitalized elderly in a Southern Brazilian public hospital

“…Gingival inflammation and bleeding were observed in 40 and 41% of the participants, respectively, which was a far lower proportion than those who presented visible biofilm (Figure 1), probably indicating biofilm formation during the hospitalization period. A recent review identified educational, exclusively mechanical, exclusively chemical and chemo-mechanical interventions to prevent biofilm accumulation in elderly people (Ruiz Núñez et al, 2021). Professional brushing, educational strategies that included demonstration, sugarless chewing gum and chlorhexidine mouthrinses were found promising, but with short lasting results (Ruiz Núñez et al, 2021).…”

“…A recent review identified educational, exclusively mechanical, exclusively chemical and chemo-mechanical interventions to prevent biofilm accumulation in elderly people (Ruiz Núñez et al, 2021). Professional brushing, educational strategies that included demonstration, sugarless chewing gum and chlorhexidine mouthrinses were found promising, but with short lasting results (Ruiz Núñez et al, 2021). Also, mouthrinses are adjuncts of oral hygiene that present different active principles and mechanisms to act on reduction of gingivitis (Figuero et al, 2019).…”

The denture microbiome in health and disease: an exploration of a unique community

“…As well as being essential to prevent the accumulation of denture plaque that may harbour potential pathogens, good denture hygiene is also required to limit malodour, and maintain good aesthetics in denture wearers (Jagger and Harrison 1995). There is a wide range of denture hygiene products and protocols available for denture cleaning (Ruiz N uñez et al 2022). The UK National Health Service recommends that dentures are cleaned as Indeed, in the first randomized double-blinded control trial it was shown that frequent daily denture cleansing with a tablet and brushing was more effective than intermittent cleaning, significantly reducing microbial numbers in denture plaque (Ramage et al 2019).…”

“…There is a wide range of denture hygiene products and protocols available for denture cleaning (Ruiz Núñez et al . 2022). The UK National Health Service recommends that dentures are cleaned as often as normal teeth (i.e.…”

“…2002), requiring assistance from carers and some education (Ruiz Núñez et al . 2022). Specific treatments are available if a Candida infection is suspected (Patil et al .…”