Periodontal Disease: Classification, Diagnosis, Risk Factors and Prevention (1993)

There is good evidence to recommend personal toothbrushing and flossing to prevent gingivitis in adults.
In children there is good evidence to support toothbrushing only; however, flossing is recommended to develop the necessary skills and establish a habit.
There is weak scientific evidence to recommend oral hygiene for the prevention of periodontitis; however, brushing and flossing are strongly recommended to prevent inflammation and reduce the level of supragingival bacteria.
There is fair evidence to recommend professional scaling and plaque removal in periodontally healthy individuals.
There is good evidence to recommend professional scaling and plaque removal in periodontally health individuals.
There is good evidence to recommend professional scaling every 3 to 4 months in patients with periodontitis or after periodontal surgery.
There is also good evidence to recommend the use of chlorhexidine oral rinse as an adjunct to self-care in the prevention of gingivitis. Listerine is less effective than chlorhexidine. There are no long-term studies on the effectiveness of other antimicrobial rinses marketed for home use.
Anticalculus dentifrices are recommended for people with high levels of calculus formation to reduce the accumulation of supragingival calculus.
Antibiotics are not recommended for the prevention of gingivitis or periodontitis.
There is fair evidence to recommend smoking cessation to reduce the risk of developing periodontitis.