Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p><jats:bold>Aim: </jats:bold> Regular dental flossing has been widely recommended to prevent periodontal diseases. Nevertheless, compliance is below a desirable level. This study evaluates the effects of a brief behavioural intervention on dental flossing and determines whether the effects of such an intervention are stronger in a specific subgroup of individuals (those intending to floss regularly=implemental mindset).</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Materials and Method: </jats:bold> Behavioural intervention (planning when, where and how to floss) trial was conducting with 194 participants assigned to an intervention or a control group by a random time schedule; the primary outcome was validated self‐report of flossing behaviour. Follow‐up data were collected 2 and 8 weeks post‐intervention.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Results: </jats:bold> Individuals receiving the planning intervention significantly outperformed those in the control condition at both the 2‐ and the 8‐week follow‐up (4.24 times flossing/week <jats:italic>versus</jats:italic> 3.9 at 2 weeks; 4.02 <jats:italic>versus</jats:italic> 2.98 at 8 weeks). Intervention effects were stronger in individuals in the implemental mindset. Dropout rates were higher for participants who received the planning intervention but were not in the implemental mindset.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Conclusion: </jats:bold> Planning interventions are an economic and effective way to change oral self‐care behaviour, and are more effective in individuals in an implemental mindset.</jats:p>