Research and application progress of mechanical measures for oral plaque control

Abstract

Effective removal of dental plaque is a key measure to prevent and control common oral diseases and to maintain the long-term effect of dental prostheses. The methods of oral plaque control are mainly depending on mechanical measures, including regular toothbrushing, interdental cleaning and oral irrigation. Toothbrushing is the most common and effective method for mechanical removal of dental plaque.How ever the effect of toothbrushing alone to remove dental plaque is limited. It is necessary to control the interdental plaque using tools such as dental floss and interdental brushes. Oral irrigation is an assistant method to improve oral hygiene. Toothbrushing combined with the use of oral irrigator can significantly improve the removal rate of dental plaque. The present article reviews the research progress of the mechanical plaque control methods and their application results.