Biofilm Control and Oral Hygiene Practices

As the thick biofilm in the presence of fermentable carbohydrates is the main etiological factor of dental caries, the frequent and systematic removal of this colony by means of an effective biofilm control should result in the prevention of caries lesions or in the arrest of the local carious process. However, the role of biofilm control in the management of dental caries has been questioned. This chapter will discuss the biofilm control and oral hygiene practices on root surfaces. Laboratory and clinical studies describing the effect of biofilm control and oral hygiene practices on the arrestment of root carious lesions are described. Epidemiological surveys evaluating the association between oral hygiene and root caries are discussed. Finally, some aspects on chemical biofilm control are also presented.