Position Summary
Brushing, cleaning between teeth, and seeing a dental professional regularly are essential for good oral health and should be promoted by governments, the dental profession, schools, and health organisations.
Position
2.1 Public education campaigns should promote good oral hygiene practice.
2.2 Oral hygiene should be embedded into educational curricula at all levels.
2.3 Oral hygiene should be promoted in health awareness campaigns supported by Governments, health funds, industry, and health professions
2.4 Oral health education and oral hygiene should be included in antenatal care and education for parents with the aim of developing children’s oral cleaning skills.
2.5 Parents and carers should understand the importance of oral hygiene and provide active supervision and assistance with brushing and interdental cleaning where needed.
2.6 Education and training courses for some non-dental practitioners should include an oral health component enabling them to understand the importance of oral health. Where appropriate, additional education and training in oral health promotion and dental screening should be provided.
2.7 Tertiary education courses for carers and health care providers must include a mandatory oral health component and should include the ability to recognise signs of active disease.
2.8 Training in oral health care for carers and health care providers must be provided by appropriately trained health professionals.
2.9 Dentists, or delegated and suitably trained personnel, must have a role in identifying and maintaining suitable practices and recommending oral hygiene measures to suit individual needs and capability.
Background
3.1 Oral hygiene is one of several key factors in the maintenance of oral and general health.
3.2 Daily regular cleaning of teeth, dental implants, gums, and dental prostheses forms part of a good oral hygiene routine.
3.3 The daily oral hygiene routine is a key contribution that individuals can make to reduce the prevalence and severity of oral diseases and is a basic health requirement at all ages independent of the presence of teeth.
3.4 Poor oral health is associated with various systemic diseases; a bi-directional relationship exists with some systemic diseases.
3.5 Early childhood decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease - good oral hygiene can help reduce this disease prevalence and extent.
3.6 Frail and care-dependent people may require the aid of another person to maintain their oral hygiene. This may include a health professional, carer or family member.
3.7 The main oral hygiene strategies include:
• brushing for two minutes twice a day;
• using an age-appropriate fluoride toothpaste;
• clean between teeth once a day using floss or interdental brushes; and
• visit a dental professional for regular check-ups and professional cleaning.
3.8 Tooth decay (dental caries) and gum disease (periodontal disease) are two of the most common diseases experienced by Australians. Plaque is the primary cause of both diseases. Oral hygiene strategies can reduce plaque levels and deliver effective preventative agents to the sites of potential or established disease.
3.9 The following products are proven aids to oral hygiene:
• toothbrush or denture brush;
• fluoridated toothpaste;
• interdental aids including floss & interdental brushes;
• sugar-free chewing gum;
• mouthrinse
3.10 The promotion of oral hygiene is required to maintain community awareness of oral health care needs.
Definitions
4.1 BOARD is the Dental Board of Australia.
4.2 DENTAL PRACTITIONER is a person registered by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency via the Board to provide dental care.
4.3 NON-DENTAL PRACTITIONERS are health care providers other than those who are registered by the Board.
4.4 ORAL HYGIENE is the maintenance of oral cleanliness for the preservation of health.
4.5 SCREENING is the intentional observation of patients to recognise potential deviations from normal health.
5. Last review
September 2025
6. Next review due
September 2030
This Policy Statement is linked to other Policy Statements:
2.1 National Oral Health
2.5.1 Funding
3.14 The Role of Non-Dental Practitioners in Oral Health
6.19 Minimal Intervention Dentistry
