Prevention is the foundation of successful dentistry and an integral component of health and well-being as the mouth provides a window into an individual’s general health status. The link between oral health and overall health is well documented and backed by robust scientific evidence. Problems associated with the teeth and gums (such as an increase in tooth wear, tooth sensitivity, tooth staining and gum problems) become noticeably more pronounced as we age. Promoting good general and oral health and providing sound dental health education will encourage patients to participate in the self-discovery process that is necessary for them to become an active participant in their own oral
healthcare.
In order to make the right recommendations for patients it is essential to understand the science behind products, read the research studies and consider how a particular technology or product fits within the process of oral care. Oral hygiene products (toothpaste and mouthwash) containing stabilised chlorine dioxide, fluoride and hydroxyapatite can be a significant aid in achieving and obtaining a healthy oral environment, when used as part of an oral hygiene regime and patient compliance is excellent. With favourable behaviour towards remineralisation and prevention, they could potentially help to combat some effects of ageing on the oral cavity and provide oral health benefits.
Dental plaque is often seen as the precursor to tooth decay and gum problems. It contributes to the oral cavity’s
overall dynamic environment that frequently undergoes rapid changes in pH, nutrient availability and oxygen tension. Cavities develop when the rate of demineralisation exceeds the rate of remineralisation, which often links to gum problems and tooth sensitivity. Plaque biofilm formation is not limited to tooth surfaces, as about 80 per cent of the remaining surfaces, including the oral mucosa, tongue and saliva, serve as reservoirs of pathogenic bacteria. According to Jorgsen and Slot “under suitable conditions, periodontal pathogens colonise the subgingival environment, incorporating into a tenacious biofilm, impacting both caries and periodontal disease.” Plaque bacteria (Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus) can lower the pH below 5.5 and demineralise the tooth surface by producing acid through the metabolisation of carbohydrates, attacking the minerals in the enamel, the cementum and the dentin.
Hydroxyapatite and its fluorinated derivative named fluoroapatite are both some of the hardest materials existing in nature. They support a naturally occurring function - the restorative role of saliva in the mouth, which is the
first line of defence against caries. Hydroxyapatite does this by neutralising acids caused by plaque bacteria and by providing calcium and phosphate ion building blocks, which diffuse back into the enamel to restore lost minerals. In
oral hygiene products it can make teeth more resistant to acidic food and drinks and contributes to both their health and natural beauty. Hydroxyapatite can effectively help to improve the mechanism of regenerating tooth enamel and has the ability to reduce the sensitivity by blocking dental tubules.
Whilst both gum problems and tooth decay are associated with bacterial plaque, international researchers have known for some years that volatile sulphur compounds (VSC), the family of gases which are primarily responsible for oral malodour, are also linked to cause tooth decay and gum problems. Bad breath is estimated to be the third most frequent reason for seeking dental aid, following tooth decay and periodontal disease. It stems from many causes, but it commonly results in the presence of sulphurous emissions in the mouth. Approximately 30 per cent of the population suffer from chronic bad breath at any one time. It is a serious problem that can affect many people, either intermittently or chronically, and can ruin their self-esteem, social and professional life.
The late eminent American periodontist, Professor Perry Ratcliff claimed that the link between oral malodour and gum problems has implications for treatment and that extremely low concentrations of volatile sulphur compounds primarily responsible for oral malodour, are also highly toxic to the tissues in the mouth. Volatile sulphur compounds are the by-products of the bacterial action and the putrefaction in the oral cavity of oral debris such as stagnating food, rotting skin cells, bacteria toxins and other sulphur containing substrates. When VSC are absent, the toxins from the bacteria do not cross the epithelial barrier, when VSC are present they alter the epithelial barrier, allowing the bacterial toxins to penetrate through the epithelium into the deeper tissues. These act as antigens to start the immune response, which starts the inflammatory reaction that causes tissue destruction to form periodontal pockets.
To achieve an unsurpassed level of oral hygiene and gum health, the challenge is to eliminate the VSC that cause bad breath and the bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum problems. Research has shown that stabilised chlorine
dioxide can demonstrate efficacy at lowering concentration of volatile sulphur compounds that play a particular role in the causes of gum problems by changing the molecular structure on contact. Working together with the natural
oral pH, stabilised chlorine dioxide effectively neutralises the acid in the mouth, eliminates bacteria, gently lifts organic stains and helps to reduce biofilms. Very gentle on the delicate tissues of the mouth it acts as an oxidising agent. Renowned for his work, Professor Ratcliff explains: “Traditional procedures of scaling, root planing and the practice of oral hygiene, combined with tongue scraping are effective at reducing levels of VSC in the mouth.”
With strong performance in eliminating VSC and oral bacteria, oral hygiene products containing the active stabilised
chlorine dioxide, fluoride and hydroxyapatite, such as UltraDex, could be of value to a wide spectrum of clinical oral hygiene concerns in the fight against bad breath, tooth decay, plaque and gum problems when used as part of an oral healthcare regime. Without alcohol and free from SLS, they are gentle, and safe for long term everyday use, bridging the gap between professional and at home oral care.
References available on request.