Leading voices in oral health strengthen consensus on biofilm management

Oral diseases driven by a dysbiotic dental plaque biofilm are preventable.

25 September 2025 (Last updated: 25 Sep 2025 17:23)

As dental plaque biofilm-driven oral diseases continue to place avoidable burdens on patients and healthcare systems, a collective of UK oral health leaders gathered in London on 18 July 2025 to reaffirm the evidence and align on shared prevention strategies.

 

Hosted by Kenvue*, the event brought together representatives from the British Society of Periodontology (BSP), the Oral Health Foundation (OHF), the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT), and the British Association of Dental Therapists (BADT), alongside leading clinicians, academics and Key Opinion Leaders.

 

Opening the discussion, Professor Iain Chapple said: “We’re here today to assimilate the latest evidence from the S3-level guidelines, the Delivering Better Oral Health (DBOH) toolkit, and other sources that have changed our understanding of dental plaque biofilm-mediated diseases like periodontitis and caries. There are still many misunderstandings within the practising community, so we have brought national society leaders together to clarify the evidence and explore how we cascade this evidence consistently across the profession.”

 

The consensus below was developed and supported by all those in attendance and reflects Kenvue’s continued commitment to evidence-based practice and support for clinical education across the oral healthcare team.

 

Oral diseases driven by a dysbiotic dental plaque biofilm are preventable

‘Oral disease prevention is multi-dimensional and requires cost-effective population-level approaches, as well as personalised guidance throughout the life course,¹ with specific touch points at (pre-)birth, childhood, adolescence, independent adult living and assisted living. Effective self-care plays a critical role in the prevention of dental caries and gingivitis.

 

Mechanical plaque removal using a fluoride toothpaste is the mainstay of dental plaque biofilm control, but a significant proportion of the population are unable to achieve levels that stabilise gingival inflammation and dental caries activity in their mouths. In such cases, additional methods of dental plaque biofilm management should be considered: these include the use of mouthrinses containing chemical agents with proven antimicrobial capability, principally chlorhexidine (CHX), essential oils (EOs) and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC)² and fluoride for demineralisation/remineralisation efficacy.³

 

For the use of fluoride-containing toothpaste formulations for adults, the DBOHv4 toolkit has been updated to “spit don’t rinse with water”.³ For specific antimicrobial mouthrinses,² spitting and rinsing with a fluoride mouthrinse containing at least 225ppm fluoride after brushing helps build the salivary fluoride reservoir for dental caries prevention.⁴ If using a mouthrinse, protocols may vary, but in periodontal care, antimicrobial fluoride-containing mouthrinse use after brushing is recommended and for caries management, fluoride mouthrinse use at a different time of day is advised.’

 

The following KOLs contributed to the discussion and supported the consensus, representing a cross-section of UK dental leadership from clinical practice, academia, and national associations.
 

Dr Ben Atkins – Past President, Oral Health Foundation

Professor Avi Banerjee – Professor of Cariology & Operative Dentistry, King's College London

Mr Leon Bassi – Clinical Lecturer, Restorative Dentistry (Dental Therapy)

Dr Nigel Carter – Chief Executive, Oral Health Foundation

Professor Iain Chapple – Professor of Periodontology and Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at the University of Birmingham and the NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre 

Ms Debbie Hemington – BADT President

Ms Rhiannon Jones – BSDHT President

Ms Simone Ruzario – BSDHT President Elect

Dr Shazad Saleem – Joint Chair, BSP Education Advisory Committee and Faculty Member

Dr Fiona Sandom – Lead Dental Educator for Health Education and Improvement Wales

Professor Nicola West – BSP President, Chair and Honorary Consultant in Restorative Dentistry (Periodontology) at the University of Bristol Dental School

Professor David Williams – Professor Emeritus of Global Oral Health, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London.

 

"Kenvue is proud to support the advancement of oral healthcare through scientific collaboration, accessible education and clinical partnership. This latest consensus forms part of an ongoing programme to promote best practice and improve patient outcomes across the UK," Bas Vorsteveld, Area Managing Director, Northern Europe at Kenvue.

 

For more information, visit For more information, visit https://kenvuepro.com/en-gb/brands/listerine

All attendees to this advisory board were paid a fair market value compensation for their time by Kenvue, which included creating and approving this consensus statement and content for release.

 

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References

1. Global strategy on oral health. Geneva: World Health Organization 2022. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240062889. (Accessed: 31 July 2025)

2. West N et al. BSP implementation of European S3-level evidence-based treatment guidelines for stage I–III periodontitis in UK clinical practice. Journal of Dentistry 2021; 106: 103562. doi: 10.1016/j.jdent.2020.103562

3. Delivering better oral health: an evidence-based toolkit for prevention. Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and NHS Improvement. London 2021, 4th edition. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/delivering-better-oral-health-an-evidence-based-toolkit-for-prevention. (Accessed: 31 July 2025)

4. Sköld UM, Birkhed D. Effect of post-brushing mouthwash solutions on salivary fluoride retention – study 1. Journal of Clinical Dentistry 2012; 23(3): 97-100. PMID: 23210421

 

* Kenvue (Kenvue UK Limited) 

About Kenvue 

Kenvue globally is the world’s largest pure-play consumer health company by revenue. Built on more than a century of heritage, our iconic brands, including Aveeno®, Johnson’s®, Listerine®, Neutrogena®, and Nicorette®, are science-backed. At Kenvue, we realise the extraordinary power of everyday care. Our teams work every day to put that power in consumers’ hands and earn a place in their hearts and homes. Learn more at www.kenvue.com/uk  

 

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