Refer to Section 3 of the full guidance
Both the prevention of periodontal diseases and the maintenance of the periodontal tissues following initial treatment rely on the ability and willingness of the patient to perform and maintain effective plaque removal.
This may require a change in the patient’s behaviour in terms of brushing, interdental cleaning and other oral hygiene techniques, as well as other lifestyle behaviours such as tobacco use and diet.
Oral Hygiene TIPPS is modelled on patient behaviour change strategies which have been shown to be effective at improving oral hygiene behaviour when carried out in primary care.
This intervention is based on behavioural theory and aims to make patients feel more confident in their ability to perform effective plaque removal and help them plan how and when they will look after their teeth and gums. This may involve identifying a trigger which will remind patients to perform oral hygiene tasks, for example, to brush their teeth and to floss before going to bed.
The intervention can be delivered by any suitably qualified member of the dental team and should be followed up and built upon at each return appointment.
A video is available which illustrates the use of Oral Hygiene TIPPS.