[Oral hygiene: effective and safe].

Daily oral hygiene is a matter-of-course. However, many people disregard the difficulties of effective cleansing of the dentition and need to be made aware of the problems; in everyday practice, more attention must be given to detailed individual instruction and recall. A systematic order of cleansing, the use of the proper instruments in the proper way and particularly the avoidance of traumatic forces are important to prevent damaging side effects, such as gingival recession, abrasion and erosion. Patients with periodontal problems are in need of conscientious instruction after their initial treatment, as careful plaque control has proven to be effective in the prevention of further deterioration. Moreover, patients with an increased risk of plaque retention, due to restorative, prosthetic and orthodontic devices or implants, need special care and frequently repeated instructions.