The prevention and treatment of tooth decay in patients can fall into many categories. These are:

  • Prevent new tooth decay lesions from appearing
  • Prevent existing lesions from progressing further
  • Preservation of the tooth substance with
    • Early stage non-surgical care
  • Conservative surgical care for extensive caries stages
  • Dealing with tooth decay risk factors
  • Be alert to changes in both dental and patient risk through regular monitoring
  • Improving patient health outcomes

Improve oral health routine and diet

Every patient should be trained in the care of their teeth and gums. The dental team should be responsible for helping patients understand what makes up an effective daily routine. 1

This includes oral hygiene practices like brushing your teeth with a 1450 ppm fluoride toothpaste last at night and another day during the day. Patients should also be encouraged to clean the spaces between their teeth once a day. 1

A fluoride mouth rinse may be recommended for patients at higher risk of tooth decay. Patients should be advised to use mouthwash once a day, at any time between brushes. 1

Patient groups at high risk of tooth decay or with a history of tooth decay should also be instructed to reduce the amount and frequency of sugar (carbohydrate) consumption. 1 This includes limiting sugar consumption to meals and avoiding unhealthy snacks.

Another behavioral habit that can help patients at increased risk of tooth decay is chewing sugar-free gum with xylitol. This can help promote the flow of saliva. 2

Toothpaste with a high fluoride content

High fluoride prescription toothpaste is a simple, evidence-based tool for preventing tooth decay in adolescents and adults. 3, 4, 5 It is particularly recommended for patients who are at risk from multiple caries (coronal and / or root caries). 4, 6

Toothpaste with high fluoride content is an evidence-based method of early intervention. 1

It is a proactive solution for patients at risk of multiple caries 4, 5, 6 where supply has been interrupted due to lockdown to prevent caries from worsening.

Public Health England’s Delivering Better Oral Health recommends a prescription toothpaste with a high fluoride content of 5000ppm for patients over the age of 16 who are or will be at high risk of tooth decay. 1

Find out more about prescribing high-fluoride toothpaste here: High-fluoride toothpaste by prescription [hyperlink]

Excessive fluoride varnish

Fluoride varnish remedies with 2.2% NaF (sodium fluoride) are used extra typically in youngsters susceptible to tooth decay or lively tooth decay. Nonetheless, many peer-reviewed research present that tooth decay in adults is similar to that in younger individuals. seventh

Due to this fact, Delivering Higher Oral Well being recommends using professionally utilized topical fluorides for all ages. Adults with clearly lively tooth decay, dry mouth, individuals with particular wants, or different threat elements for tooth decay are suggested to deal with themselves with fluoride varnish twice a yr. 1

Fluoride varnish is without doubt one of the finest methods to extend the supply of topical fluoride, whatever the fluoride ranges within the water provide. The caries-preventive effectiveness of fluoride varnishes in everlasting and deciduous enamel has additionally been confirmed in prime quality. 1

Any affected person identified with tooth decay previously 24 months must be at elevated threat of tooth decay and could also be thought of for prime fluoride varnish remedy. eighth

Docs must be conscious that there are numerous fluoride varnishes available on the market that will not be accepted for treating tooth decay, though they could have related formulations. This must be taken into consideration with the prescribing doctor’s duties in thoughts. 1 Colgate® Duraphat® Varnish is the one Prescription Solely Drugs (POM) varnish that has been clinically confirmed to stop tooth decay. 9

Dimple and fissure sealing

Tooth sealants had been launched within the 1960s to stop tooth decay, primarily within the pits and fissures of the occlusal tooth surfaces. Sealers stop the expansion of micro organism that may result in tooth decay. 3

A sealant is a protecting composite coating that’s utilized to the chewing surfaces of molars. The seal creates a troublesome protecting defend that stops meals and micro organism from stepping into the tiny grooves in your enamel and inflicting rot. 10

It is strongly recommended to use pit and fissure sealants to youngsters with a medium or excessive threat of tooth decay. 3

You’ll be able to inform the affected person which enamel will likely be sealed after analyzing them and checking that the fissures are deep sufficient to assist a seal. Some enamel naturally have deep grooves that should be sealed; others have shallow ones that don’t should be sealed. 10

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  1. Public Well being England (2017) “Delivering higher oral well being: an evidence-based toolkit for prevention”, third version, UK.
  2. Newton JT, Awojobi O, Nasseripour M, et al. A scientific overview and meta-analysis of the position of sugar-free chewing gum in dental caries. Medical and translational analysis at JDR. 2020; 5 (3): 214-223. doi: 10.1177 / 2380084419887178
  3. Ahovuo-Saloranta A, Forss H, Walsh T, Nordblad A, Mäkelä M, Worthington HV. Dimple and fissure sealing to stop tooth decay in everlasting enamel. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Jul 31; 7 (7): CD001830. doi: 10.1002 / 14651858.CD001830.pub5. PMID: 28759120; PMCID: PMC6483295.
  4. Colgate-Palmolive (U.Okay.) Ltd (2020) “Abstract of Product Options”, Duraphat 5000 ppm fluoride toothpaste. On-line at https://mhraproducts4853.blob.core.home windows.web/docs/993ca2d10345c940c4649fd8c98042f68fe00d51
  5. Colgate-Palmolive (U.Okay.) Ltd (2014) “Duraphat® 5000ppm Fluoride Toothpaste”, Bundle Insert: Info for the person, on-line at https://mhraproducts4853.blob.core.home windows.web/docs/f7686217b083fc71959d19152bb6eab6ea5dad82.
  6. Colgate-Palmolive (U.Okay.) Ltd (2020) “Abstract of Product Options”, Duraphat 2800ppm fluoride toothpaste. On-line at https://mhraproducts4853.blob.core.home windows.web/docs/c0e452136f37b21ae14dae330bc55c62b0e931fb
  7. Thomson World Cup. Experiences of Caries in Aged Over Time: What Can the Massive Cohort Research Inform Us? Br. Dent J. 2004; 196 (2): 89-92.
  8. The ADA Scientific Panel points evidence-based scientific suggestions: Sufferers at elevated threat of creating tooth decay profit from using topical fluoride. American Dental Affiliation web site. https://www.ada.org/en/press-room/news-releases/2013-archive/november/ada-scientific-panel-issues-evidence-based-clinical-recommendations. Revealed on 11/01/2013.
  9. Colgate-Palmolive (UK) Ltd (2020) “Colgate® Duraphat® Varnish 50mg / ml Dental Suspension”, on-line at https://www.colgateprofessional.co.uk/merchandise/products-list/colgate-durphat-varnish-50 -Toothpaste, accessed October 2020.
  10. Oral Well being Basis (2020) “Pit and Fissure Sealants”, on-line at https://www.dentalhealth.org/pit-and-fissure-sealants, accessed October 2020.

GetImageThis marketing campaign is run by the Oral Well being Basis, a charity that creates more healthy communities by selling higher oral well being. The marketing campaign is sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive.