Healthy gums transforming into a blooming garden.

Can a Single Chat Prevent Gum Disease Relapse? The Truth About Motivational Interviewing

Beau Callahan in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research explores if a one-time motivational session can keep oral hygiene on track and prevent gum disease from coming back."

Gum disease, or periodontitis, is a widespread infection affecting the tissues and bone that support your teeth. Left unchecked, it leads to tooth loss and is considered a major public health concern. The key to preventing gum disease from progressing is controlling the bacterial infection through consistent and effective oral hygiene.

But here's the challenge: maintaining excellent oral hygiene habits over the long term can be tough. Traditional dental education often falls short, leaving many people struggling to keep their smiles healthy. This has led researchers to explore new ways to motivate individuals and improve their oral hygiene practices.

One promising approach is motivational interviewing (MI), a patient-centered counseling method designed to help people identify their own reasons for change. But does it really work for long-term oral health? A recent study published in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene investigated whether adding a single MI session to standard periodontal treatment could prevent gum disease from returning. Let's dive into what they found.

The Study: Can a Single Motivational Boost Keep Your Gums Healthy?

Healthy gums transforming into a blooming garden.

Researchers followed 26 patients who had previously been treated for gum disease. All patients received standard periodontal therapy, including oral hygiene instruction and professional cleaning. However, half of the patients also participated in a single MI session with a psychologist before starting their treatment.

During the MI session, the psychologist helped patients explore their feelings about their oral health, how it connected to their lives, and what motivated them. The goal was to empower patients to take ownership of their oral health.

The study tracked how well participants maintained their oral hygiene over three years, measuring:
- Marginal Bleeding Index (MBI): How much their gums bled when probed (a sign of inflammation).
- Plaque Score: How much plaque was present on their teeth.

The big question: would the group that received the extra motivational boost from the MI session have healthier gums and less plaque buildup compared to the group that only received standard treatment?

The Verdict: Does Motivational Interviewing Make a Difference?

Unfortunately, the study found that a single MI session didn't provide a long-term advantage. Both groups—those who had MI and those who didn't—showed similar improvements in gum health after treatment, and their oral hygiene habits remained about the same over the three years.

Interestingly, the best predictor of healthy gums at the end of the study was how healthy the gums were immediately after the initial periodontal treatment. In other words, getting gum inflammation under control in the short term seemed to set the stage for continued success.

While this study suggests a single MI session may not be a magic bullet, it doesn't diminish the importance of good communication and patient empowerment in dental care. Further research is needed to explore whether ongoing motivational support, or MI delivered by trained dental professionals, could have a more lasting impact.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1111/idh.12308, Alternate LINK

Title: A Brief Motivational Interviewing As An Adjunct To Periodontal Therapy-A Potential Tool To Reduce Relapse In Oral Hygiene Behaviours. A Three-Year Study

Subject: Dentistry (miscellaneous)

Journal: International Journal of Dental Hygiene

Publisher: Wiley

Authors: J Stenman, Jl Wennström, Kh Abrahamsson

Published: 2017-08-24

Everything You Need To Know

What is gum disease and why is it a concern?

Gum disease, or periodontitis, is a serious infection that damages the tissues and bone supporting your teeth. If left untreated, it can lead to tooth loss and poses a significant public health concern. Maintaining consistent and effective oral hygiene is crucial to control the bacterial infection and prevent the progression of gum disease. This includes regular brushing, flossing, and professional cleanings.

What is Motivational Interviewing (MI) and how does it relate to oral health?

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a patient-centered counseling technique designed to help individuals identify their own motivations for change. In the context of oral health, the aim is to encourage patients to take ownership of their oral hygiene practices. During an MI session, a psychologist guides patients to explore their feelings about their oral health, how it relates to their lives, and what motivates them to change. This approach can potentially empower patients to improve their oral hygiene habits.

What was the study design?

The study followed 26 patients who had been treated for gum disease. All patients received standard periodontal therapy, which included oral hygiene instruction and professional cleaning. Half of the patients also participated in a single Motivational Interviewing (MI) session with a psychologist before starting treatment. The researchers tracked the Marginal Bleeding Index (MBI) and Plaque Score over three years to assess how well participants maintained their oral hygiene.

What are the Marginal Bleeding Index (MBI) and Plaque Score, and why are they important?

The Marginal Bleeding Index (MBI) measures how much the gums bleed when probed, indicating inflammation. The Plaque Score assesses the amount of plaque present on the teeth. Both measures are used to evaluate oral hygiene. These were tracked over three years to determine if Motivational Interviewing (MI) helped to maintain better oral health outcomes compared to standard periodontal therapy alone.

What were the main findings of the study regarding Motivational Interviewing (MI)?

The study found that a single Motivational Interviewing (MI) session did not provide a long-term advantage in preventing gum disease relapse. Both the group that received the MI session and the group that did not showed similar improvements in gum health and oral hygiene habits over the three years. This suggests that a single MI session, when added to standard periodontal treatment, may not be sufficient to ensure long-term maintenance of oral health in this specific study.