This monograph records the presentations which formed the basis of an expert workshop to consider the role of the daily use of mouthrinses in maintaining oral health. Foreword.

摘要

This monograph records the presentations which formed the basis of an expert workshop to consider the role of the daily use of mouthrinses in maintaining oral health. In addition to having had the privilege and pleasure of chairing the workshop, I am delighted to have been asked to prepare this foreword.Based on the premise that oral hygiene is a key to oral health, and mouthrinses can add to the effects of mechanical plaque control, the authors of the papers in this monograph consider various aspects of existing mouthwash products, with an emphasis on clinical efficacy, and highlight the need to better understand the diversity and complex dynamics of the oral microbiota in developing mouthrinse systems capable of enhanced clinical efficacy while preserving the benefits of the normal, resident oral microflora. In taking matters forward it will be important to investigate interactions between species in the oral microbiota, use oral biofilm models to help screen novel agents and formulations, and undertake much-needed, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trials in a highly disciplined and rigorous manner.