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Plaque Accumulation

LISTERINE® Total Care Enamel Guard provides an effective means of addressing plaque accumulation

Acid-producing bacteria are associated with dental caries.1

The four essential oils in LISTERINE® kill key acid-producing oral pathogens found in plaque biofilm.2,3

Managing the plaque biofilm is key to helping maximise fluoride uptake and helping reduce risk of caries. LISTERINE® can penetrate even the deepest layer of the plaque biofilm, killing significant numbers of plaque bacteria.4

The four Essential Oils of LISTERINE® deliver effective plaque reduction for effective protection from caries. Adding LISTERINE® to a patient’s daily oral regimen can significantly reduce plaque levels.5 The adjunctive use of LISTERINE® produces an incremental whole-mouth plaque reduction of up to 52% when compared with brushing and flossing alone.5

Reduction in whole mouth mean plaque at 6 months5

Adapted from Sharma N et al. 2004.

  • Reducing plaque reduces a key barrier to fluoride uptake6,7

References

  1. Tanzer JM et al. The microbiology of primary dental caries in humans. J Dent Ed 2001; 65(10): 1028–1037.
  2. Fine DH et al. Effect of an essential oil-containing antiseptic mouthrinse on plaque and salivary Streptococcus mutans levels. J Clin Periodontol 2000; 27(3): 157–161.
  3. Ross NM et al. Long-term effects of LISTERINE antiseptic on dental plaque and gingivitis. J Clin Dent 1989; 1(4): 92–95.
  4. Fine DH et al. Comparative antimicrobial activities of antiseptic mouthrinses against isogenic planktonic and biofilm forms of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans. J Clin Periodontol 2001; 28: 697–700.
  5. Sharma N et al. Adjunctive benefit of an essential oil containing mouthrinse in reducing plaque and gingivitis in patients who brush and floss regularly. A six-month study. J Am Dent Assoc 2004; 135: 496–504.
  6. Watson PS et al. Penetration of fluoride into natural plaque biofilms. J Dent Res 2005; 84: 451–455.
  7. Alves ARB et al. Clinical and laboratory evaluation of the ability of fluoride gels to reach approximal dental regions. Braz Dent J 1993; 4(2): 119–126.