Fighting oral disease is an ongoing battle. After cardiovascular disease and diabetes, oral diseases are the third most expensive conditions to treat and affect more than 3.5 billion people worldwide.[i] The World Health Organization (WHO) began the Global Oral Health Action Plan in 2023, with 2030 as a target to provide universal oral health coverage for all people.[ii] Now halfway through the action plan, the need to reduce the prevalence of caries, periodontitis, oral cancers and edentulism is still urgent.
Fortunately, there is a silver lining to managing oral diseases – most are preventable. This means patients can maintain healthier smiles for a long-lasting quality of life, but getting to this stage relies on three things: education, compliance, and the right oral hygiene solutions.
Reframe the patient’s perspective
Highlighting the power of prevention reframes a patient’s perspective, especially those who think oral health isn’t fully their own responsibility and dental practitioners will take care of all the problems in their mouth. Clear patient communication is therefore essential to achieve optimal hygiene outcomes, with particular focus on regular dental appointments, brushing twice a day and why it is important for the rest of the body.
A useful analogy to help patients rethink oral hygiene is of buying a new car: if the car is not annually serviced then hidden problems will exacerbate, leading to potential breakdown and a hefty repair job. This is why it is worth having a service, allowing professionals to spot potential risks and prevent further damage – a small payment that reduces the likelihood of a much larger bill down the line. Like a car, the teeth and gingivae need close attention to maintain aesthetic and functional outcomes and prevent invasive treatments such as tooth extraction.
Reduce treatment times
An important area to spotlight is post-treatment oral hygiene. Generally, patients do not want to return for timely and costly fixes and repairs and instead prefer a treatment that is long-lasting. But without a proper oral hygiene understanding, there is no long-lasting effect for any treatment; from inflamed gingivae to alveolar bone resorption, inadequate daily dental care leads to compromised tooth structures, edentulism, and then a returning trip to the dental practice.[iii] Preserving their recent dental treatment through diligent oral care can be a powerful motivator for patients.
Emotion is an integral part of effective communication; logic justifies our actions but it is usually only applied after an emotional decision has been made.[iv] Finding an approach that emotionally resonates with each patient can lead to compliant preventive action. For instance, ask a patient to think about what their mouth is used for: eating, speaking, smiling, kissing, humming, whistling – if they enjoy these actions, then looking after the mouth twice a day is a very small price to pay.
Another educational strategy that practitioners can empower their patients through is by detailing the knock-on effect of oral disease. Whilst a study found that 84% of patients know that oral health influences general wellbeing, the scientific explanations may be lesser understood.[v] It is worth identifying that what is bad for the teeth is usually bad for the body, with a high consumption of sugary foods and acidic drinks increasing the risk of caries but also behavioural patterns, mental health disorders and systemic health conditions like obesity.[vi] If poor oral health influences general health, than it can have a larger impact on quality of life, family and, ultimately, society when the issues mount up. Far from a fearmongering technique, demonstrating this knock-on impact as a worst-case scenario for poor oral health contextualises the important role that toothbrushing and interdental cleaning play, beyond just keeping the teeth and gingivae stable.
Learn from the best
The iTOP programme from Curaden delivers a systemic approach to oral prophylaxis. More than just theory, iTOP is a practical journey designed to teach dental professionals worldwide how to transform oral hygiene practices and effectively coach patients toward lifelong healthy habits. You’ll gain valuable insights into new tools and techniques that will not only improve your patients’ oral heath but also enhance their overall well-being.
Prevention-first dentistry is the future, representing a proactive and logical way of reducing oral disease prevalence. Not only is prevention a more cost-effective solution to a restoration, it also encourages patients to think about the broader implications of their oral health and overall health. This maintains compliance and pushes us closer to achieving the target of universal oral health coverage.
For more information about iTOP courses and to book your place on one, please visit The Curaden Academy website http://www.curadenacademy.com/
To arrange a Practice Educational Meeting with your Curaden Development Manager please email us on sales@curaden.co.uk
Author: Andrew Turner – Curaden UK Head of Marketing UK & Ireland
[i] Jevdjevic, M. and Listl, S. (2024). Global, Regional, and Country-Level Economic Impacts of Oral Conditions in 2019. Journal of dental research, [online] p.220345241281698. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/00220345241281698.
[ii] WHO (2024). Global strategy and action plan on oral health 2023–2030. [online] www.who.int. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240090538.
[iii] Kumar, S., Pratibha Gopalkrishna, Syed, A.K. and Abishikka Sathiyabalan (2025). The Impact of Toothbrushing on Oral Health, Gingival Recession, and Tooth Wear—A Narrative Review. Healthcare, 13(10), pp.1138–1138. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101138.
[iv] Dennison, J. (2023). Emotions: functions and significance for attitudes, behaviour, and communication. Migration Studies, [online] 12(1), pp.1–20. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/migration/mnad018.
[v] Hoque, M., Md Aktaruzzaman and Hasan, M.N. (2026). Dental patients’ views on oral health and hygiene: a questionnaire-based assessment in Bangladesh. GMS Hygiene and Infection Control, [online] 21, p.Doc04. doi:https://doi.org/10.3205/dgkh000613.
[vi] Witek, K., Wydra, K. and Filip, M. (2022). A High-Sugar Diet Consumption, Metabolism and Health Impacts with a Focus on the Development of Substance Use Disorder: A Narrative Review. Nutrients, [online] 14(14), p.2940. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14142940.
