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Cited by 76Oral microbiology and periodontitis researchDental Health and Care UtilizationOral Health Pathology and Treatment

Ill Effects of Improper Oral Hygiene Procedures

Gillette, William B., Van House, Robert L.·1980·The Journal of the American Dental Association
DOI 10.14219/jada.archive.1980.0295
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Abstract

Improper use of the tools that prevent tooth decay and gingival disease can also produce harmful effects. For example, dental floss can cause inflammation; toothbrushes could cause abscesses; and water-irrigation devices might drive foreign material into soft tissue. This report discusses the effects of incorrect oral hygiene, the signs the practioner should notice, and the proper corrective steps. Although effective oral hygiene is essential for the maintenance of healthy teeth and supporting tissues, analysis of the literature and clinical observation suggested that six problem areas may be associated with common oral hygiene measures. --Overly vigorous toothbrushing or using the wrong type of brush for the technique often leads to cervical tooth abrasion, gingival irritation, and gingival recession, or all of these problems. --Uncontrolled or overly vigorous dental flossing may lead to irritation, ulceration, or defects of the gingiva. Proximal root surfaces are rarely abraded. --Dentifrices, mouthwashes, and chewing gum may elicit allergic or toxic reactions in susceptible persons. These reactions take a variety of traumatic injuries, especially if used at high pressure. Perhaps, detailed individual instruction should be given by dental personnel before use. --Abscess of gingival tissues may occur from implantation of fragments of such oral hygiene aids as toothbrush bristles and toothpicks. --Bacteria may enter the bloodstream during certain oral hygiene measures, especially in patients with advanced chronic gingival disease. The rate of occurrence is unknown because of conflicting results in different studies. These bacteremias are of concern to patients who have rheumatic heart disease, prosthetic heart valves, prosthetic joints, and renal dialysis shunts, or fistulas used in renal dialysis. A classification of oral hygiene-caused disorders is proposed, based on the injury and the causative agent.

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Crossref · 10.14219/jada.archive.1980.0295

Cites

36 of 36 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Bleeding is an indicator of inflammation that needs to be treated by interdental cleaning.

    “Patients must be aware that bleeding per se is not a reason for cessation of interdental cleaning but is an indicator of inflammation that needs to be treated by interdental cleaning.101”

    From Contemporary practices for mechanical oral hygiene to prevent periodontal disease. (2020) · cites this paper as [101]

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Authors
Gillette, W. B., & Van House, R. L.
Affiliations
Indiana University Indianapolis (US)
Venue
The Journal of the American Dental Association
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1980-09
Volume
101
Issue
3
Pages
476-481
ISSN
0002-8177 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.14219/jada.archive.1980.0295
OpenAlex
W2095732961
Cited by
76
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 5
FWCI
1.69
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • The Journal of the American Dental Association (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Oral microbiology and periodontitis research
  • Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Dental Health and Care Utilization
  • Health Sciences › Dentistry › Periodontics › Oral Health Pathology and Treatment
Keywords
oral hygiene, toothbrushing, dental flossing, gingival irritation, gingival recession, dental abrasion, toothpaste, mouthwash, chewing gum, allergic reactions, gingival abscess, bacteremia
MeSH terms
Dental Devices, Home Care, Gingival Diseases, Humans, Hypersensitivity, Mouthwashes, Oral Hygiene, Periodontal Abscess, Tooth Abrasion, Toothbrushing

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