Self-care: practical periodontal care in today's practice.

The contemporary patient has come to accept a personal responsibility for his own health. In terms of periodontal health and disease the dentist should enable the patient to achieve and maintain periodontal health by advising and, where appropriate, prescribing agents for home use. Agents to control plaque, whether in the form of rinses, pastes, gels or other formulations must demonstrate certain properties and characteristics. The testing, availability and properties of some of these agents are discussed.