Update on the role of antiseptics in oral hygiene
Recommendations on the use of antiseptics in oral hygiene and the prevention of periodontitis will be presented at an international summit in Madrid this week.
The latest scientific and clinical evidence, systematic reviews of studies, and reference guides for dental professionals all support the efficacy and value of antiseptics as a complement to daily oral hygiene. Their use is considered a part of the prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases.
The Clinical Practice Guidelines for the treatment of periodontitis and the conclusions of the XI Periodontology Workshop of the European Federation of Periodontology provide recommendations and indications for the use of antiseptics in the prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases.
However, these recommendations can be complex and inaccessible to oral health teams, which may limit the use of resources that have proven clinical efficacy.
Faced with this situation, a group of experts led by the vice president of SEPA, Paula Matesanz, are meeting on Friday to share their knowledge, thoroughly analyse the scientific literature, and evaluate the recommendations of the prevailing international guidelines. The aim is to clarify the role of mouthwashes in oral hygiene and in the treatment of gingivitis and the prevention of periodontitis.
This meeting is part of the activities derived from the 2023-2025 strategic global agreement between the SEPA Foundation and Listerine, who have joined forces in the Principles for Oral Health initiative, which aims to guarantee access for oral health professionals to the fundamentals of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of periodontitis.
Within this cooperation framework is the first project, called Essentials, to specifically reflect on the efficacy and value of clinically tested antiseptics and antibacterial mouthwashes included in the systematic reviews of the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP S3) and simplify the relevant conclusions on their current use as well as their adjunctive role in controlling dental biofilm.