Plaque biofilm penetration a key criteria

Whole-mouth cleaning and plaque biofilm penetration were identified at Europerio 2006 as the key criteria for improving the oral health of all European adults by some of the world's leading periodontal experts.

Following these claims, two clinical trials showed that Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash kills bacteria in hard-to-reach areas of the mouth, and penetrates plaque biofilm more effectively than any other mouthwash.

Presenting at Europerio 5 in Madrid, Spain, Dr Antonio Santos, Director of Periodontology, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain, said: "Poor oral health is a major concern for dental professionals throughout Europe, with new data revealing that more than one in two adults has gingivitis, and a staggering 99% of the adult population of Europe have dental caries.¹

"Part of the problem is that mechanical home-care regimens, such as brushing and flossing, do not reduce bacterial levels in hard-to-reach or interproximal areas of the mouth. Teeth represent only 24% of the mouth's surface area, so even with effective brushing and flossing, bacteria may remain and re-colonise.² It is therefore clear that adjuvant treatments, such as mouthwashes, are required to help control whole-mouth plaque levels.

"Because Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash is in a liquefied form, it is able to reach and kill bacteria in hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. Indeed, a recent study has shown that the addition of Listerine to a standard brushing and flossing regimen, significantly decreases the accumulation of whole-mouth plaque by 52%."³

Professor Denis Kinane, Professor of Periodontology, University of Louisville, USA added: "It is also becoming increasingly apparent that the most effective plaque-reducing agents are able to penetrate plaque biofilms. Plaque biofilms comprise hard, dense bacterial colonies, which co-aggregate on the surface of teeth and soft tissues, and have the ability to spread laterally and vertically. Individual bacteria are then shed from this central complex into surrounding tissues and the circulatory system, culminating in poor oral health.

"Biofilms are more resilient than free-floating bacteria, and only a few plaque-reducing agents can penetrate them. However, a new comparative study has shown that compared to other available mouthwashes, Listerine is significantly superior in terms of plaque biofilm kill activity. The study showed that after Listerine exposure, 77.0 plus/minus 15.8% of biofilm cells were either killed or severely injured."⁴

"If used as directed, twice-a-day, every day, the addition of Listerine to a patient's normal oral care routine could therefore lead to profound improvements in their overall dental health, and help prevent conditions such as caries or periodontal disease."

According to manufacturers Pfizer, Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash is the most extensively tested mouthwash in the world, and has been safely used by approximately one billion people for over 115 years.⁵

References

1. Spanish Dental Health Survey.
2. Kerr W, et al. J Dent Res. 1991; 12: 1528-1530.
3. Charles, C. et al. J Am Dent Assoc. 2001; 132: 94-98.
4. Lux R et al. Data presented at Europerio 5, 30 June 2006, Madrid, Spain.
5. Pfizer Inc. Data on file.