Behavioral strategies for periodontal health

The impact of lifestyle factors has been increasingly studied and discussed in oral healthcare. Positive lifestyle factors are important in maintaining oral health or controlling disease, but they are not easy to adopt over the long term. Along with public health initiatives within communities and groups, there is a role for behavior change interventions delivered in dental practice settings to improve the periodontal health of individuals. Behavior management is now seen as a part of both prevention and therapy of periodontal diseases. This article summarizes the evidence on behavioral strategies for periodontal health to inform and assist oral healthcare professionals in implementing behavior change in their practice. In addition, strategies for education and training in communication and behavior change techniques are considered.