Study Reveals Brushing and Rinsing Superior to Brushing and Flossing in Preventing Periodontal Disease

For years, dental professionals have advised patients that brushing and flossing are the cornerstones of effective oral hygiene. However, a new article in Digital Dentistry & Healthcare Knowledge (DDHKMAGAZINE.COM VOL. 4 ISSUE 01 SUMMER 2024) challenges this notion by suggesting that brushing paired with antibacterial rinsing is significantly more effective in preventing periodontal and peri-implant diseases.

The article, entitled Peri-Implant Disease: What your patient can do to prevent losing the implant; What you can do to prevent losing the patient, highlights the insufficiency of brushing and flossing alone in reducing dental plaque. Herb Moskowitz, DDS, Chairman of ioTech International, emphasizes the importance of a daily regimen that includes brushing, flossing, and antibacterial rinsing. Moskowitz cites studies indicating that brushing and rinsing is 18 times more effective than brushing and flossing and six times more effective in reducing dental plaque.

These findings are supported by a six-month study involving over 300 dental patients and another study with 160 patients. Both studies demonstrated that brushing combined with rinsing significantly reduced plaque and inflammation, as measured by the Plaque Index, the Modified Gingival Index, and the Bleeding Index. Click here to review the study results.

Moskowitz also stresses the role of home gingival irrigation, using an oral irrigating device or water flosser, in significantly enhancing oral health. The article notes that rinsing agents alone can reach 21% of a 6mm pocket, but when combined with an oral irrigator, they can reach 90% of the same pocket.

Molecular iodine, highlighted as a highly effective agent, offers broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity with no resistance development. It is effective against bacteria, viruses, and fungi, which are often implicated in peri-implant diseases. The article compares various antiseptic rinses and shows that molecular iodine is the only rinse to completely inactivate both Fusobacterium nucleatum and Prevotella intermedia, bacteria primarily responsible for periodontal disease and linked to colon cancer. Click here to review the comparative efficacy of each tested antiseptic rinse.

With as many as 75% of US adults having some form of gum disease, Moskowitz underscores the importance of integrating molecular iodine into regular oral hygiene practices for enhancing the longevity of dental implants and maintaining better overall oral health. Implant failures are occurring at an alarming rate, with nearly 50% of 12,000 analyzed implants showing peri-implant disease, a condition that could often be prevented with proper oral care including an effective antibacterial rinse.

Among the ioTech molecular iodine rinses currently available are ioRinseR mouth rinses, ioRinseR Ultra for controlling dental plaque and gingivitis, and the recently introduced ioRinseR MR for addressing mouth and canker sores, dry mouth, oral pain, and oral ulcers. The company plans to introduce ioRinseR AC anti-cavity mouth rinse in September.

In conclusion, a proper oral hygiene regimen that includes brushing, rinsing, and subgingival irrigation can lead to better overall health by preventing periodontal bacteremias, which are closely linked to various systemic diseases such as Alzheimer's, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. Read the entire article here.