Helping patients maintain good oral care at home can be a challenge, especially when it comes to creating new habits. Studies show it takes a minimum of 21 days to create a habit, even longer if the habit is considered “undesirable.”
Many healthy dental habits are considered undesirable by patients, leading to the conclusion that any dental routine must be easy to manage, or most patients likely will not make it a habit. Fortunately, most are willing to brush and use a mouthrinse as part of a daily routine. Use of the proprietary Oxyfresh Oxygene®-containing dental products gives your patients the added boost to achieve better habits and home care without making drastic habit changes.
Oxygene® to Target Odor
Many individuals elect to use a mouthrinse to combat oral malodor. Over 6 million bacteria reside in the oral cavity and include over 700 species, both harmful and beneficial. The delicate balance to reduce and prevent oral disease can change and alter over time and with changes in health. Alcohol-based mouthrinses are often a “kill-all” formulation, impacting the good bacteria in addition to the harmful strains. One of the most detrimental side effects is the drying effect of alcohol. For those who have xerostomia, this can compound the problem.
Oxygene® has been used in Oxyfresh’s line of dental products, including rinses, pastes and gels, for many years, successfully targeting the odor-causing bacteria. The line of alcohol-free mouthrinse is shown to be similar in antibacterial effect to chlorhexidine, but without the staining – and unlike chlorhexidine, it can be used long term. Going back to habits, the pleasant mint or lemon-mint taste encourages compliance.
Periodontal Adjuncts
According to the CDC, periodontal disease affects nearly 47% of adults over the age of 30 in some form, and over 70% of those 65 and older. What this means to dental professionals is the necessity to find a better way for patients to participate in treatment, control and prevention at home.
One study evaluated the benefits of Oxygene®-containing Pro Relief Dental Gel as an adjunct to periodontal therapy treatment, as discussed in webinars. The gel, used in conjunction with scaling and root planing, nearly doubled the reduction in pocket depths compared to the procedure alone. The reduction in bleeding was also notable. Plus, patients can safely use it at home on a daily basis.
Oxygene® Is Not New!
Oxyfresh has used the proprietary Oxygene® (chlorine dioxide) for decades to bring a whole oral care system to the market of dental products. Public and professional awareness of the benefits that Oxygene® brings to oral health is spreading.
