Children's Toothbrushing Research Articles

THE EFFECT OF THE ABA (APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS) METHOD ON THE KNOWLEDGE AND EFFICACY OF TOOTHBRUSHING IN AUTICAL CHILDREN

The dental and oral health of autistic children is generally not good. This is exacerbated by the inability to brush teeth properly, due to disruption of the child's concentration and interaction, making it difficult to receive instructions on how to brush teeth. Dental and oral health problems in autistic children are the same as dental health problems in normal children. The difference is the behavior that autistic children display where they are unable to follow instructions or are uncooperative. Objective: To determine the effect of dental health education using the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) method on the knowledge and efficacy of toothbrushing in autistic children. Method: The type of research design is quasi-experimental with a pretest and posttest non-equivalent control group design utilizing intervention and control groups with a purposive sampling technique totaling 15 intervention groups and 15 control groups. The instrument used for this research was a questionnaire to assess the knowledge and efficacy of brushing teeth in children with autism. Results: There was an influence and increase in knowledge and efficacy of toothbrushing in both groups with a value of (P<0.05), however the increase was higher in the intervention group. Conclusion: There is an influence of dental health education using the ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) method on the knowledge and efficacy of toothbrushing in autistic children

Increasing mothers' knowledge, and attitudes, and children's oral hygiene index simplified (OHI-S): an experimental study on the “EKARINI” educational method

ABSTRACTIntroduction: The high incidence of dental caries in children is partly due to the lack of parental participation in estabilishing children's tooth-brushing habits. This research aims to see an increase in the variables tested in the EKARINI, an educational model on mothers’ knowledge, attitudes, and children's OHIS. Methods: This study employs an experimental design, collecting pretest and posttest data from mothers and their children following the intervention. The intervention provided in this study involved the EKARINI educational model, which included a pre-test and post-test in the form of a questionnaire consisting of several questions about maternal knowledge and attitudes toward dental health, and the control group received standard education using media such as leaflets, videos, and phantom models. The sample consisted of two groups: an intervention group with 20 respondents and a control group with 20 respondents. Data analysis was conducted using either the independent t-test or the Mann-Whitney test. Results: The findings revealed a significant difference between the posttest scores of the intervention group and the control group The p-values indicate significant differences for each variable: knowledge (p = 0.006), attitude (p = 0.016), and OHIS (p = 0.010), showing that the EKARINI educational model effectively improved maternal knowledge, attitudes, and children's oral hygiene compared to the control group. Based on the average value, the group that received the educational model had a higher average value than the control group. Conclusion: The EKARINI educational model is in increasing mothers’ knowledge, attitudes, and better OHIS values.

Family Helpfulness Preserved Children's Toothbrushing Habits During Pandemic

Family Helpfulness Preserved Children's Toothbrushing Habits During Pandemic

Tooth brushing time table media as an effort to increase the independence of brushing teeth in preschool children

Background: Based on the Basic Health Research in 2018, in Banten province, the population who have dental problems in the form of damaged teeth, cavities or pain in the 3 - 4 year old group with a percentage of 36.4% and the 3 - 4 year old group who do tooth brushing care with the correct time is only 1.1%. Therefore, it is necessary to provide dental health education to children using methods and learning media that are tailored to child development. One of the methods used is by monitoring toothbrushing using toothbrush time table media. Objective: analyzing toothbrush time table media as an effort to increase the independence of brushing teeth in preschool children Methods: This study used a quasi experiment with pretest and post test design, conducted on 77 students as respondents obtained using the total sampling technique. The type of data used is primary data, which is data obtained directly by measuring the level of children's tooth brushing independence. The instrument used was a tooth brushing independence checklist sheet. Results: The results of the study before and after using the toothbrush time table media on 77 respondents, with the category needing guidance as many as 64 students (83.1%), became excellent toothbrushing independence as many as 60 students (77.9%), and the mean of toothbrushing independence with the results of 47.9, namely the category needing guidance changed to 87.9 with an excellent category, with independence p-value of 0.001 (p <0.05). Conclusion: The tooth brushing time table media can increase the independence of tooth brushing in preschool children

Children's toothbrushing: a population survey on behaviours, attitudes, and knowledge in parents of Callao, Peru.

To determine the factors associated with behaviours, attitudes and knowledge of parents about children's toothbrushing (CTB). This is a cross-sectional analytical study of a calculated sample of 3,534 parents/guardians (92.6% female; 7.4% male; average age = 34 years [29-37]) of schoolchildren aged 3 to 8 years in 19 public schools in the province of Callao (Peru). A 31-item face-to-face/virtual questionnaire was divided into: 5 behavioural (18 (IQR)=3]; good 76%), 5 attitudes (13 [IQR=4]; negative 74.2%) and 10 knowledge (12 [IQR=4]; low 92.8%) (KMO≥0.537, Bartlett<0,001) and reliability (ω≥0.537) and 11 demographic domains. Bivariate and multivariate linear Poisson models were used with a P<0.05. Children of parents with a higher education showed good behaviours related to CTB. Negative parental attitudes and low knowledge about CTB were associated with a lower parental education and toothbrushing frequency.

Parental perceptions of an oral health promotion program in early childhood education and care settings: A qualitative study.

Early Childhood Caries is a global health problem. The Bright Smiles Bright Futures (BSBF) program seeks to equip educators, children, and parents with skills and knowledge about oral health promotion habits early in life. The aim of this study was to examine parental perceptions of the BSBF program and identify key facilitators and barriers for its implementation. Twelve mothers of children who participated in the BSBF program in five Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) settings in NSW, Australia were recruited in this qualitative study. Data were collected via focus groups and interviews, transcribed verbatim and coded to categorize for inductive thematic analysis. Five major themes emerged: Promoters of the BSBF oral health program, barriers to the BSBF oral health program implementation and participation, online resources, impact of the BSBF oral health program, and strategies for enhancing the BSBF oral health program. While participants reported that the program encouraged their children's toothbrushing, they found issues with the program's materials, ECEC center attendance, and communication about the oral health program with their children. The program improved message retention, attitudes, routines, and family perceptions toward oral health. Participants recommended oral health literacy, changed delivery formats, increased dental access, and inclusion of interactive elements to enhance the program. The findings from this study provide insight to improve parents' experiences and engagement in oral health promotion. This can help to raise awareness of the importance of child oral health among policymakers, healthcare professionals, and the public to inform public health policy discussions.

Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Malay version of parenting and child tooth brushing assessment (M-PACTA)

BackgroundMalaysian preschool children continue to exhibit a high prevalence of dental caries and poor oral hygiene. There is a need to gain an in-depth understanding of oral hygiene habits and design suitable interventions to improve oral hygiene in early childhood.ObjectiveTo cross-culturally adapt and determine the psychometric properties of the Malay-translated Parenting and Child Tooth Brushing Assessment questionnaire (M-PACTA).MethodologyThis cross-sectional study involved face and content validation, and forward and back-translation of PACTA. The M-PACTA was then tested for reliability and construct validity on 150 Malaysian parents of children aged 5 to 6 years old.ResultsFace validity indicated that the M-PACTA items were clear and easy to understand. For content validity, some words had to be modified in accordance with the recommendations of the expert committees to make it more coherent to Malaysians. Some statements in the parental knowledge scales were modified according to the guidelines applicable in Malaysia. The content comparison of the back translation with the adapted PACTA revealed that all items were semantic and linguistically equivalent. Exploratory factor analyses of M-PACTA suggested a two-factor structure for three scales including child behaviour scale (‘non-compliance’ and ‘avoidance behaviour’), parental attitudes (‘lack of concern’ and ‘attitude of care’), and parental knowledge (‘general tooth brushing knowledge’ and ‘awareness of tooth brushing care’) while for the parental strategy scale, three-factor structure was extracted including ‘routine positive methods’, ‘uncommon positive methods’, and ‘negative methods’. Internal consistencies for all scales were good (α > 0.9).ConclusionM-PACTA did not replicate the construct of the original PACTA. Nonetheless, M-PACTA demonstrated good construct validity, internal consistency reliability, and test-retest reliability within Malaysian context.

In-Vitro Tooth Cleaning Efficacy and Filament End Rounding of Different Manual Children's Toothbrushes.

This in-vitro study aimed to investigate the cleaning efficacy of 18 different manual children's toothbrushes applying horizontal, vertical, and rotational movements, as well as to evaluate the rounding of their filament ends. Models equipped with artificial teeth (coated with titanium dioxide) were brushed using a brushing machine with clamped manual children's toothbrushes. The machine carried out horizontal, vertical, and rotational movements for 1 min with a constant contact pressure of 100 g. The percentage of the area of titanium dioxide removed from the buccal, mesial, distal and total surfaces of the artificial teeth corresponded to the cleaning efficacy. To assess the filament design, a scanning electron microscope was used to check the morphology of the filaments which was scored with Silverstone and Featherstone scale. SPSS 22 was used for data analysis. The rotational and the vertical movements achieved the best cleaning efficacy with all tested toothbrushes. The vast majority of the tested toothbrushes had their poorest cleaning efficacy in the horizontal movement. Only a small part of the children's toothbrushes (3 out of 18) had a correct and acceptable proportion of rounded bristle ends. Based on the present results, it could be concluded that the cleaning efficacy of different manual children's toothbrushes varied considerably. The best cleaning efficacy was almost always observed for rotational and vertical movements.

Examining Caregiver- and Family-Level Psychosocial Influences on Child Oral Health Behavioral Outcomes in Racially and Economically Minoritized Urban Families.

Understanding the pathways linking caregiver- and family-level psychosocial factors and child oral health behaviors is critical for addressing oral health disparities. The current study examined the associations between caregiver psychosocial functioning and family chaos and child toothbrushing behaviors in children at high risk for poor oral health outcomes. Data were drawn from the baseline wave of the CO-OP Chicago Cohort Study (U01DE030067), a longitudinal study on child/caregiver dyads exploring oral health behaviors and caries development in young children (N = 296 dyads; child mean age = 5.36, SD = 1.03; caregiver mean age = 33.8 years, SD = 6.70; caregiver race = 43% Black; caregiver ethnicity = 55% Latinx). The oral health behavioral outcomes included child toothbrushing frequency, child plaque levels, and caregiver assistance with child toothbrushing. The data included demographics; caregiver depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, social functioning, social support, and resilience; and family-level household chaos. Multiple regression models indicated that greater household chaos was significantly related to lower caregiver assistance with child toothbrushing (p = 0.0075). Additionally, caregiver anxiety and PTSD symptoms as well as number of children in the home significantly predicted higher levels of household chaos (p < 0.01). Notably, 18% of caregivers reported clinically significant PTSD. The relationships between caregiver-level psychosocial factors and child oral health behaviors were not significant. The results suggest household chaos may play an important role in child oral health behaviors and highlight the importance of investigating family-level factors for understanding and addressing child oral health risk.

Dental odyssey: a comprehensive literature review on global strategies, behavioral programs, and creative approaches for ages 6-12 years

Introduction: Oral and dental hygiene serves as an indicator of a condition free from diseases, debris, and health issues in the oral cavity, affecting individuals of all age groups. Health education through various global learning systems, behavioural programmes, and creative approaches has proven effective in enhancing children's understanding of the importance of maintaining oral and dental cleanliness. Objective: Objective: This research aims to review relevant journals contributing to the development of insights, behaviours, and understanding regarding children's oral and dental health across crucial age ranges. Methods: Using a literature review method, we filtered articles from Google Scholar, PubMed, Garuda (Digital Reference Library), and Science Direct published within the last six years. Searches in both Indonesian and English languages yielded ten articles that, after a selection process, provided diverse results regarding the implementation of learning models to enhance children's understanding of their oral and dental hygiene. Result: From the ten articles, it can be concluded that the application of education on oral and dental hygiene through various learning systems can effectively improve children's knowledge. Conclusion: the oral hygiene of elementary school children from various countries. Variations in research designs were found, and there is low awareness among children regarding dental health in Indonesia. Educational programmes, such as "Brush Day &amp; Night," and collaborations between FDI and Unilever have proven effective in improving children's toothbrushing habits. The use of music and the snake ladder game was also considered appropriate for developing awareness and behaviours related to dental hygiene.

A qualitative meta-synthesis of carers' perceptions of factors influencing preschool children's oral hygiene practices-A social practices perspective.

This study comprises a synthesis of published qualitative studies from developed countries on the perspectives of carers regarding the oral hygiene toothbrushing practices of preschool children, through the lens of social practice theory. A search of the following electronic databases was conducted for all available years: MEDLINE, EMBASE and Global Health using the Ovid platform; Dentistry & Oral Sciences Source (DOSS), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Scopus. Included qualitative studies reported primary caregivers' perceptions of oral hygiene practices (focusing on toothbrushing) in preschool children (0-5 years old) in developed countries. A thematic synthesis of the qualitative findings was undertaken for the results of each study. Eleven articles were included in this meta-synthesis. The focus of this paper was toothbrushing practices. A conceptual map of toothbrushing as a social practice was developed. Key findings included practice elements (meanings, competences, and materials), spatial and temporal aspects, and barriers and facilitators to performance. The application of a social practice lens to published qualitative research on the oral hygiene of preschool children provided insights into the meanings and competences related to toothbrushing, as perceived by primary caregivers. However, it also revealed limited information on material, spatial and temporal aspects of toothbrushing practices, indicating the importance of considering social practice theory as a framework in future research to address this gap. Furthermore, exploring toothbrushing in connection with related social practices has the potential to increase understanding of factors influencing oral health in preschool children.

Impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the oral health behaviour of young children.

Children up to the age of 10 are dependant primarily on their caregivers for oral care; COVID-19 lockdowns may have disrupted this care. We therefore assessed whether the COVID-19 lockdown affected routine parental oral care for their children. A short online survey regarding oral health behaviour and changes in the home setting during the COVID-19 lockdown was emailed to parents (n = 782, response 15%) participating in an existing study 'Healthy Teeth All Aboard (HTAA)'. During the lockdown, 29% of parents reported that they skipped their children's toothbrushing more often than before the lockdown, and 49% of the children were allowed to consume sugary snacks or drinks more often. These behaviours were not significantly associated with socio-economic status, country of birth of the mother, work situation of the parents, school attendance patterns or HTAA participation status. The COVID-19 lockdown affected the daily oral hygiene routines of children, potentially increasing caries risk. Dental professionals should be aware of the potential impacts on oral health in children in the circumstance of a new lockdown. Parents should be made aware of the oral health consequences of a lockdown.

Effect of different brushing parameters on erosive tooth wear in primary bovine enamel and dentin.

This in-vitro study aimed to analyse the effect of brushing and different brushing parameters (kind of toothpaste, kind of toothbrush, brushing force) on erosive tooth wear of primary bovine enamel and dentin. Specimens were prepared from primary bovine enamel or dentin (each group n = 12) and cyclically eroded (6 × 60 s/d, citric acid, pH 2.4) and brushed with children's toothbrushes (2 × 15 s/d) over 5 days. The brushing parameters under investigation were: toothpaste (fluoridated, fluoride-free), toothbrush (manual; rotating-oscillating and sonic, each at two different activation modes) and brushing force (1 N, 2 N). Specimens that were only eroded and not brushed served as controls. Enamel and dentin wear was quantified using widefield confocal microscopy. Statistical analysis was performed using three- and one-way ANOVAs followed by Scheffe's (enamel) or Tamhane's (dentin) post-hoc tests (p < 0.05). Brushing with the fluoridated toothpaste was able to significantly reduce erosive wear in enamel (by 15 to 37%, 6 of 10 groups) and in dentin (by 58 to 72%, all groups), while brushing with the fluoride-free toothpaste was not different from the controls. Considering the kind of toothpaste and brushing force, slight differences between the toothbrushes were observed in enamel, but not in dentin. Within the same toothbrush and activation mode, almost no differences between 1 and 2 N brushing force were detected. In conclusion, erosive tooth wear on primary bovine dental hard tissue mainly depends on the kind of toothpaste, rather than on the kind of toothbrush and the brushing force.

Comparing plaque removal efficacy of biodegradable toothbrush and nonbiodegradable toothbrush in children of 8-10 years of age: A randomized clinical study.

In the 21st century, we are surrounded by plastic, disposal of which has a detrimental effect on the environment. Around 700 million plastic toothbrushes are sold which contributes to a large portion of plastic waste. To aid in the restoration of the environment, there is a need to replace plastic toothbrushes with recyclable toothbrushes. The purpose of the study was to evaluate and compare the plaque removal efficacy of biodegradable toothbrushes and nonbiodegradable toothbrushes in children 8-10 years of age. Ninety children 8-10 years old from school were included in the study. Toothbrush types to groups A (nonbiodegradable toothbrush, Colgate® Palmolive India Ltd.), B (Biodegradable toothbrush, Bamboo India), and C (Biodegradable toothbrush, Palette™ India) were randomly allocated and plaque score was evaluated using plaque disclosing agent and Turesky Modification of Quigley Hein Index at day 1, 7, and 14. The data were analyzed using unpaired "t" and analysis of variance to find the significance of study parameters between the groups and paired t-test was used to find the significance of study parameters within the group (pre- and postbrushing). The comparison of plaque scores pre- and postbrushing in all groups manifested reduction from day 1 to 14. However, Group B showed a significant reduction of plaque on day 14 with a difference of 0.50 which is statistically significant with a P < 0.001. According to the results, it can be concluded that a biodegradable toothbrush has adequate plaque removal efficacy. Therefore, the use of biodegradable toothbrushes can be recommended which will reduce nonbiodegradable waste.

Tooth Brushing Learning Methods: Differential or Conventional? – A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Introduction: Proper tooth brushing is a complicated process for children. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of differential learning to improve tooth brushing in children. Methods: In this prospective, controlled, single-blinded, randomized clinical trial, 58 children between 3 and 8 years of age (mean: 5.7 ± 1.5 years; 29 female) were randomly assigned to test or control group through the child’s self-drawing of an unlabeled envelope from a box. All children received oral hygiene instructions and information in these sealed envelopes and were asked to follow the corresponding instructions at home for 28 days. Children in the test group received instructions with exercises using the differential learning method, whereas the children in the control group received the usual tooth brushing instructions. Results: At baseline and planned follow-ups after 4 and 12 weeks, plaque and gingival indices (QHI, PBI) were recorded in both groups by 2 calibrated and blinded investigators. At baseline, there were no significant differences between the test and control groups regarding plaque and gingival indices (QHI: 4.1 ± 0.5 vs. 4.1 ± 0.4; p = 0.7; PBI: 0.6 ± 0.3 vs. 0.6 ± 0.3; p = 0.7). At the 1st and 2nd follow-up, both groups showed improved oral health indices, but there was an overall better improvement in the test group. While the difference in gingival indices was statistically significant in the 1st recall (PBI/test: 0.1 ± 0.2 vs. control: 0.3 ± 0.2; p < 0.001), the difference in plaque indices was not (QHI/test: 2.1 ± 0.9; control: 2.6 ± 0.9; p = 0.07). At the 2nd recall (mean week = 19.5 weeks), the test group showed statistically significant and clinically relevant better oral health indices than the control group (2nd recall, QHI/test: 2.1 ± 0.9 vs. control: 3.2 ± 1; p < 0.001; PBI/test: 0.1 ± 0.2 vs. control: 0.5 ± 0.2; p < 0.001). Conclusion: In conclusion, differential learning leads to oral hygiene improvement in children with high caries risk and initially poor oral hygiene, which was superior to the conventional learning method through repetition in the medium term.

PENGETAHUAN IBU DAN KEBIASAAN MENGGOSOK GIGI ANAK BERHUBUNGAN DENGAN KEJADIAN KARIES GIGI PADA ANAK

The most common dental problem in children is dental caries. Dental caries is tooth decay that occurs in the hard tissues of the teeth, namely in tooth enamel, joint teeth and gums. Lack of maternal knowledge and improper brushing habits performed in children are associated with the incidence of dental caries in children. This study aims to determine the relationship between maternal knowledge and tooth brushing habits in children with the incidence of dental caries in children.This study was conducted on school-age children in one of the elementary schools in Jati sub-district, Kudus Regency. The samples used in this study were 144 children with a sampling method in the form of a purposive method. Data collection is carried out using questionnaires that have been tested for validity and reliability.The results showed that there was a significant relationship between maternal knowledge and tooth brushing habits in children with the incidence of dental caries (p value 0.05). Mothers with less knowledge had 147 times the risk of children with dental caries (OR: 147.4) and children with poor brushing habits were 805 times more likely to develop dental caries (OR; 805)Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between maternal knowledge and the child's toothbrushing habits with the incidence of dental caries in children.

Frequency of toothbrushing in children under 12 years old in Peru, 2019-2021

Introduction: dental caries is caused by poor oral hygiene, so it is necessary to have adequate hygiene. The objective of the study was to determine the practice of toothbrushing in Peruvian children under 12 years of age between 2019 and 2021. Methods: a cross sectional, analytical, and retrospective analysis was used by applying the 2019,2020 and 2021 Demographic and Family Health Survey databases. 38 203 records were obtained in 2019, 18 613 in 2020, and 35 759 in 2021. The variables were general, daily , and minimum two times a day toothbrushing, natural region, area and place of residence, altitude, wealth index, health insurance coverage, age, and sex. A descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate statistical evaluation was carried out. Results: t hat gene ral toothbrushing was 94.93% (n=83,032), daily toothbrushing was 86.32% (n=67,753), and at least twice a day was 82.93% (n=53,824). In multivariate form, the year 2020 showed a negative association with daily toothbrushing (RPa: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.96 0.99; p&lt; 0.001) and at least twice a day (RPa: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.95 0.98; p&lt;0.001). The year 2021 revealed a negative association with general toothbrushing (RPa:0.98; 95%CI: 0.97 0.98; p&lt;0.001), daily (RPa:0.97; 95%CI: 0.95 0.98; p&lt;0.001) and minimum twice a day (RP a: 0.94; 95%CI: 0.92 0.96; p&lt;0.001), adjusted for the previously associated covariates. Conclusions: t he studied years were negatively associated with general toothbrushing, daily toothbrushing, and toothbrushing minimum twice daily.

Effectiveness of Plaque Removal Using Different Toothbrushes in Children - A Comparative Study.

Effective plaque control is essential for improved oral health. Advancements in mechanical plaque removal using toothbrushes still continue. One such sophisticated intervention is the app-based toothbrush, a new innovative technology that helps to track the child's brushing habits. The aim of this study is to evaluate the plaque removal efficacy of three different toothbrushes in children aged 6-8 years. A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted among primary school children with decayed missing filled teeth (dmft) score of ≤2. Baseline plaque score was collected using Turesky modification of the Quigley and Hein Index 1 week after oral prophylaxis. Children were randomly divided into three groups. Group I received conventional toothbrush (n = 25), group II received powered toothbrush (n = 25), and group III received app-based toothbrush (n = 25). Post-intervention plaque score, toothbrush wear and bite mark scores were done at the 15th, 30th, 45th and 90th day. Participant's opinion on their toothbrushes was evaluated using a questionnaire. App-based toothbrush showed maximum plaque reduction followed by powered and conventional toothbrush. Significant reduction in plaque score was seen at 30th-, 45th- and 90th-day follow-up in group II (<0.001) and group III (<0.001). There was no appreciable difference in the toothbrush wear and bite mark score between the three groups. Children preferred app-based toothbrush in spite of the complex nature of using it.

Dimensions of young children's toothbrushing resistance: A qualitative content analysis of discussions on the online parenting forum Mumsnet.

Young children's resistant behaviour is a barrier to parental-supervised brushing. Discussions on online parenting forums offer an insight into parental experiences, behaviour and attitudes. Analysing these discussions also demonstrates how dental advice is represented and potentially resisted. To analyse how young children's toothbrushing resistance is discussed on an online parenting forum. Qualitative content analysis of threads on toothbrushing resistance retrieved from the UK parenting forum Mumsnet. A search was carried out on Mumsnet in April 2022. Overall, 204 relevant threads were identified and analysed. A coding frame was developed. Posters interacted by discussing their experiences of resistance, asking for advice, making suggestions and being both supportive and critical. Thirty-seven strategies for addressing resistance were identified. Discussions reflected attitudes and concerns relating to young children and toothbrushing resistance, including the idea brushing should be 'non-negotiable'. A key issue was the acceptability of physical force or restraint to achieve adequate brushing. Posters invoked dental authority to support their views. Understanding how toothbrushing resistance is discussed on a parenting forum helps establish what information and advice is shared, and highlights attitudes and concerns that shape how this problem is approached.

Comparative evaluation of plaque removal efficacy and quantitative analysis of &lt;em&gt;Streptococcus mutans&lt;/em&gt; in saliva after using nylon and charcoal bristles toothbrushes in children: A clinico-microbiological study

Background: Dental biofilms are the primary aetiologic factors in the 2 most prevalent oral diseases, dental caries and periodontal disease. Among all oral hygiene methods available, mechanical plaque removal with a toothbrush is the primary mode of maintaining good oral hygiene.Objectives: Comparative evaluation of plaque removal efficacy and quantitative analysis of Streptococcus mutans in saliva after using nylon and charcoal bristles toothbrushes in children.Method: Forty healthy children aged 8-10 years having decayed-missing-filled-tooth (DMFT) score less than 5 were randomly allocated into two groups, one using charcoal bristles and the other using nylon bristles toothbrush. Loe &amp; Silness Plaque Index was recorded along with saliva sample collection for Streptococcus mutans count before and after using the respective toothbrushes for 1 week.Results: A significant reduction in plaque index was observed in each group with a non-significant reduction in Streptococcus mutans CFU. However, the comparison between the two groups was not statistically significant.Conclusions: This randomised, parallel, singleblinded clinical study demonstrated that both nylon and charcoal bristles toothbrushes significantly enhanced plaque control but there was no significant difference in the two methods. There was no significant reduction in Streptococcus mutans CFU.