Dental Plaque Index Research Articles

Dental plaque control strategies for the elderly population: A scoping review.

To review the scientific literature and identify dental plaque control strategies focussed on elderly people that improve plaque indices. Scoping review (Joanna Briggs protocol). Individual search strategies developed for six databases. The selection of the manuscripts in two phases: title and abstract review, and complete review. Studies on interventions for plaque control in elderly people (60y+). Epidemiological studies and those focussed on caregivers, health professionals and periodontal maintenance therapies were excluded. The initial search yielded 2803 studies, 26 were included. The results were classified into: exclusively chemical (10), educational (9), exclusively mechanical (6), and combined mechanical and chemical (1). The studies reported different types of interventions: sugarless chewing gum, chlorhexidine (CHX) in different preparations and concentrations, mouthwash based on essential oils, stannous/sodium fluoride dentifrice and lactoferrin/lactoperoxidase tablets. Additionally, conventional and alternative toothbrushes and professional brushing were tested. Educational interventions included oral hygiene guidance, verbal information, and demonstrations of dental and denture cleaning procedures, and lifestyle changes. Many studies have reported strategies that improve dental plaque indices but without statistical significance when compared to control groups. Promising results were found with the use of CHX, sugarless chewing gum, professional brushing and educational strategies with demonstration, but the results were not long-lasting. The literature reports that mechanical, chemical and educational strategies have some efficacy in dental plaque control in the elderly population. The results should be viewed with caution, considering the type of intervention (isolated or combined) and the maintenance of the results obtained.

Changes in PHP index following the use of waterpiks by orthodontic patients

Objectives: He study was conducted to examine the effects of the combined use of waterpik and hexamidine mouthwash by orthodontic patients on the decrease of oral periodontal bacteria pathogens and dental plaque index. Methods: In this study, oral health education was conducted for four weeks by dividing 30 orthodontic patients at Y dental clinic in Busan into a control group and an experimental group after which their PHP index was measured. Results: PHP index values decreased the most when the number of weeks of waterpik use was longer and when there was a combined use of waterpiks and hexamidine after the administation of oral health education. Conclusions: Oral health education hours must be extended so that dental hygienists can encourage patients to use the combination of Waterpik and hexamidine solution.

Correspondence between plaque index and Streptococcus mutans and Lactabacillus spp. counts in a child population: A cross-sectional study

Background: The identification of microorganisms such as Streptococcus mutans (SM) and Lactobacillus spp. (LB) is a predictor of the development of caries, however the identification methods are of limited access due to their high cost. Aim: the objective of this study was to determine the correlation between the dental biofilm measured by the modified Silness and Löe dental plaque index (DPI)) and the SM and LB count, in preschool children from Colombia. Materials and methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional and correlational study. We took 202 samples from children between 3 and 4 years of age from three kindergartens in Cali, Colombia, belonging to socioeconomic stratum 1 and 2, evaluated at four times (0, 3, 6 and 9 months). Results: We found a correlation between the highest IPB and the highest count of SM colony forming units only at 3 months (p = 0.003*). LB counts were homogeneous in all children and there was no correlation with IPB. Conclusion: We observed mixed results on the relationship between IPB and the counts of SM present in the saliva, therefore an analysis of multiple factors is required.

Reductions in clinical inflammation and oral neutrophils with improving oral hygiene.

This study compared the effects of oral hygiene with a toothpaste formulated with zinc (test) to a fluoride dentifrice (control) for effects on oral polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) as a measure of whole mouth inflammation along with effects on clinical parameters of dental plaque and gingivitis. Adults (age range 18-60 years, n = 212) completed this double-blind, parallel design study. After washout, a baseline oral rinse sample was evaluated for PMN prior to clinical assessments for gingivitis and dental plaque. Subjects were randomly assigned to brush twice daily with either the test or the control toothpaste. Post-treatment evaluations repeated all baseline assessments after 4-week, 6-week and 12-week use of dentifrice with all assessments conducted 12 hours after brushing. PMN reductions in the test were 16.8%, 18.7% and 42.5% at the 4-week, 6-week and 12-week evaluations respectively and significantly different from the control (p < 0.05). The test toothpaste also demonstrated progressively increasing reductions in gingivitis and dental plaque that ranged from 7.6 to 33.3% and 2.3 to 9.1% respectively versus the control (p < 0.05). The test dentifrice demonstrated progressive reductions in oral PMN representing whole mouth inflammation in conjunction with improvements in oral hygiene as compared to the control toothpaste. A hallmark of oral inflammation includes the accumulations of PMN in the afflicted gingival regions to reduce the influences of proliferating microorganisms. Brushing with a zinc dentifrice demonstrated progressive reductions in oral PMN and improvements in oral hygiene as evidenced by progressively lower dental plaque and gingival indices.

Prevalence of Chronic Periodontitis: A Retrospective Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: The characteristic appearance of chronic periodontitis with the absence of bacterial plaque or with minimal amounts of it, but with the presence of gingival health, expressed in the specific pink color of the gingiva, is associated with active stages of the disease and its inactive stages. The aim of this study is to compare cross-sectional and retrograde data on the prevalence of chronic periodontitis in the two respective groups of patients, evaluated according to specific periodontal diagnostic tools. Materials and Methods: The study was applied in two groups of patients: the first group of patients presented at the dental clinic in the period October 2019 - January 2020 and the second group; in the period October-November in the annual interval 2010-2018. In these patients, periodontal status was assessed based on probing values, bacterial plaque index, bleeding index, and amount of gingival fluid in specific dentures. The number of natural teeth and the number of teeth replaced with fixed prosthetics were recorded. Results: For both cross-sectional and retrograde data, chronic periodontitis is a disease that affects young people, with a higher prevalence in females. This data is expressed with high ratios of tooth loss for periodontal reasons. The highest dental care for replacement with fixed prosthetics, again belongs to the female sex, but with a high bacterial plaque index. The high index of gingival hemorrhage with reduced bacterial plaque index, are data with high percentages both for the group of patients cross-sectional data and for the group of patients with retrograde data. Conclusions: The high prevalence of chronic periodontitis at a young age indicates a poor prognosis of this disease at older ages. Gingival recession associated with loss of attachment for patients with chronic periodontitis have higher values at age intervals 31-50 years, intervals where systemic pathologies are in the stages of development and stabilization in the human body. Doi: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2021-0301-5 Full Text: PDF

Ozone Therapy in the Prevention of Dental Plaque Formation in Dogs.

This study aims to assess ozonized mineral oil ointment application as an antiplaque therapy for dogs. Domestic healthy dogs received dental scaling and polishing under general anesthesia. Under standard feeding and homecare during 7 days, 20 dogs were randomly placed into 2 different groups for dental treatment. The control group (CG) was given a single placebo application and the ozone group (O3G) received daily ozonized ointment application. The average age (CG = 4.4; O3G = 5.7 years old), body weight (CG = 15.7; O3G = 15.3 kg) and the gingivitis index obtained on the first day (D0) allowed initial homogeneity between the groups. The dental plaque index, including clinical and computerized analysis on the seventh day, was obtained from the buccal aspect of specific dental locations. Both analyses revealed significant statistical association between daily application of ozone and antiplaque effect. There was no evidence of toxicity during the study. These results suggest that ozone therapy may be an efficient adjuvant to conventional periodontal treatment in decreasing initial dental plaque formation.

Evaluation of the Effect of Ultra-Soft Toothbrushes with Different Commercial Brands on Plaque and Bleeding Indices.

Statement of the Problem: Ultra-soft bristles are recommended for individuals with gingival recession, dentinal hypersensitivity, and patients who have undergone periodontal surgeries. However, comparative effectiveness of ultra-soft toothbrushes on dental plaque and bleeding indices has not extensively been studied, and a consensus has yet to be reached on their efficacy.Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ultra-soft toothbrushes with different commercial brands on plaque and bleeding indices.Materials and Method: In this crossover randomized clinical trial, 30 participants were selected using convenience sampling method. The subjects were randomly divided into three groups (n=10). In the first session, the bleeding index was recorded. Then each subject was given a toothbrush (Oral B, GUM, or Fuchs), asked to brush at least twice a day using the Bass technique, then avoid brushing for 24 hours after a week and refer for recording the indices. During the second session, bleeding on probing was recorded before brushing, and plaque indices were recorded before and after brushing. Plaque indices before brushing were considered the baseline plaque indices. After one week of washout, each subject used the next toothbrush in terms of the group involved. Turesky plaque index, O’Leary plaque index, and bleeding index were evaluated. The distribution of data was normal. Therefore, ANOVA, t-test, and post hoc tests were used for the analysis of data.Results: The bleeding and plaque indices decreased significantly compared to the baseline with the use of all the three ultra-soft toothbrushes evaluated (p< 0.05), with no significant differences between the three brands (p> 0.05) except for the superiority of Fuchs toothbrush in decreasing the Turesky plaque index.Conclusion: Ultra-soft toothbrushes can reduce plaque index compared to the baseline, but they do not decrease the plaque index up to the optimal level, which might affect their prescription.

The Effectiveness of Red Betel (Piper crocatum) Leaf Ethanol Extract Mouthwash in Reducing Dental Plaque Index

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to determine the difference in the effectiveness of mouthwash of red betel leaf extract on the dental plaque index.&#x0D; Design:This research design is Quasi experimental. The ethanol extract of red betel leaf was prepared in various concentrations for use by the correspondents as a mouthwash. Dental plaque was observed before and after treatment, then compared the differences in results between groups.&#x0D; Interventions:The intervention variable in this study was a mouthwash preparation containing 4% and 5% ethanol extract of red betel leaf, then compared with a positive control mouthwash preparation containing Chlorhexidine.&#x0D; Main outcome measure:The results showed a decrease in the dental plaque index in the correspondents who were given mouthwash containing 4% and 5% red betel leaf ethanol extract. The anova test showed a significant difference between the dental plaque index between before and after treatment (p &lt;0.05).&#x0D; Conclusion:Mouthwash containing ethanol extract of red betel leaves is effective in reducing the dental plaque index value.&#x0D;

A comparative clinical evaluation of the effect of chamomile, Aloe Vera and chlorhexidine 0.12% mouthwash on gingival health among visually impaired

Oral health is considered of paramount importance for visually impaired individuals due to the difficulties they face to maintain a good oral hygiene practice in different aspects, knowledge, physical and social. Thus, the provision of adequate training and education about oral health and the chemical role of mouthwashes is required for this group of society. This research aims at comparing the effect of various types of mouthwashes on gingival health among visually impaired persons. 92 students with a vision impairment of ages between (10-20) years suffering from gingivitis caused by dental plaque accumulation were included in this research. The sample was divided into 4 groups according to the type of used mouthwash as follows:1) Chamomile group, 2) Aloe Vera group, 3) Chlorhexidine group, 4) Distilled water group.Dental plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) were recorded before the initiation of the treatment and after 15 days. One-way (ANOVA test) and the (Bonferroni test) were used for results analysis at p&amp;#60;0.05. Statistical analyses were completed using (SPSS) software –v13. Aloe Vera and CHX groups have improved the dental plaque index (PI) without significant statistical differences. Both (CHX and Aloe Vera) have proven superiority over the Chamomile group which was statistically significant. Gingival index (GI) has improved in the Chamomile, Aloe Vera, and CHX groups without any statistical differences.: Within the limitation of our study, we concluded that (Aloe Vera) mouthwashes can be used as a substitute to CHX in controlling plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation among visually impaired persons. Also, Chamomile mouthwashes have a distinguished impact on gingival inflammation, yet more researches are required.

Development and evaluation of a gamified smart phone mobile health application for oral health promotion in early childhood: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThis study aimed to design a gamified smartphone application (app) and assess its efficacy for education of mothers regarding oral healthcare of their children.MethodsIn this pretest–posttest controlled clinical trial, a simple app and a gamified version of it were designed to enhance the oral health knowledge and practice of mothers. The app contains information about early childhood caries, health diet, sugars, baby-oral hygiene, fluoride effect, fluoride toothpaste, tooth-brushing training video and regular dental visits. The opinion of experts and 3 mothers were obtained and both apps were revised accordingly. The intervention was implemented on mothers of preschoolers referring to the specialty dental clinic of Tehran School of Dentistry in 2019. The mothers were randomly allocated to the simple app or gamified app group. Before the intervention, all mothers filled out a questionnaire regarding oral health knowledge and practice, and their demographics were collected. The plaque index (PI) of children was also measured. The mothers filled out the same questionnaire 1 month after the intervention, and the PI of children was measured again. Paired t test and linear regression model were used for statistical analysis of the data.ResultsTotally, 58 mother and child pairs entered the study; 40% of children were boys. The mean age of children was 4.7 ± 1.2 years. The mean knowledge score of mothers in the pretest was 10.5 and 11.3 in simple app and gamified app group, respectively, which changed to 13.1 and 14.3, respectively in the posttest. The mean practice score of mothers was 4.4 and 4.8 in simple app and gamified app groups, respectively in the pretest, which changed to 8.5 and 8, respectively in the posttest. The mean dental plaque index of children in the pretest was 0.8 and 1 in simple app and gamified app groups, respectively, which changed to 0.5 and 0.5, respectively in the posttest. Children had better Plaque control in gamified app group (P < 0.05).ConclusionAfter 1 month, both apps effectively improved the oral-health knowledge and practice of mothers while oral hygiene as a result of plaque control was superior in children of mothers using the gamified app.Trial registration IRCT, IRCT20131102015238N2. Registered 24 February 2019—Retrospectively registered, https://fa.irct.ir/trial/36600.

Moguća povezanost parodontopatije i prostatitisa - pilot studija

Introduction: Prostatitis is one of the most chronic diseases which is often associated with periodontitis. The serum Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels can be elevated in a non-malignant condition such as symptomatic and asymptomatic prostatitis. Similarity in the inflammatory etiopathogenesis of these diseases is evident through the presence of Gram negative bacteremia, which in turn may be the possible link between these two conditions. Aim: To estimate the possible association between chronic periodontitis and prostatitis, evaluating the PSA levels in patients with moderate and severe periodontitis. Material and methods: 40 patients with prostatitis and elevated Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels (≥ 4ng/ml) that participated in the study were hospitalized at the University Urology Clinic at the Faculty of Medicine in Skopje. Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of the levels of periodontal clinical attachment. First group of 20 patients with Clinical attachment level (CAL) ≥ 3mm, moderate periodontitis and other group of 20 patients with CAL ≥ 5mm, severe periodontitis. Dental plaque index (DPI), Index of gingival inflammation (IGI), Gingival bleeding index (GBI) and Clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded and an assessment of PSA values was done and correlation to periodontal parameters, respectively. Differences in means, as statistically significant, were analyzed using Student's ttest. The relationship between PSA scores with all clinical parameters was done using Pearson's correlation coefficient technique. Results: Statistically significant differences were noted, (p&lt;0.05) between periodontal index values (DPI, IGI, GBI, CAL) and PSA levels within the two examined groupsHigher PSA levels were recordedin patients with severe periodontitis than inthose with moderate periodontitis. Pearson coefficient test among these periodontal indices (DPI, IGI, GBI and CAL) and PSA levels in two examined groups showed no statistically significant correlation. Conclusion: Patients with severe periodontitis were found to have higher PSA levels than those with moderate periodontitis. The clinical parameters of periodontitis and elevated PSA levels indicated a probable link between the two diseases.

Assessment of Oral Health Status of Patients Undergoing Fixed Orthodontics: A Clinical Study.

Background:The incidence of dental caries and gingival disease is at higher level in orthodontic patients. The present study demonstrated oral health status of patients undergoing fixed orthodontics.Methodology:A total of 168 patients age ranged 12–17 years who were undergoing orthodontic treatment for 2 years of both genders were recruited. The assessment of dental caries as Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) score and plaque index was determined at first, second, and last visits.Results:Age 12 years had 22 males and 28 females, 13 years had 14 males and 22 females, 14 years had 8 males and 18 females, 15 years had 7 males and 15 females, 16 years had 6 males and 14 females, and 17 years had 9 males and 5 females. The mean DMFT score in age group 12 years was 1.74 and 2.24 at first and third visits, respectively, at 13 years was 1.60 and 2.04 at first and third visits, respectively, at 14 years was 2.38 and 2.72 at first and third visits, respectively, at 15 years was 1.74 and 2.08, at 16 years was 3.32 and 3.56 and at 17 years was 3.40, and 3.64 at first and third visits, respectively.Conclusion:There was significant higher dental caries and plaque index in age group 12 years.

Pengaruh Pasta Gigi yang Mengandung Katekin Gambir (Uncaria gambir Roxb) Terhadap Penurunan Indeks Plak Gigi

Background: Dental plaque is a soft, structured, calcified layer of bacteria that accumulates and attaches to the surface of the tooth. Efforts are made to eliminate and prevent plaque on the surface of the tooth by plaque control. Plaque control can be done mechanically, chemically, or a combination of both. Chemical control is done by using toothpaste. Catechin gambier toothpaste are polyphenolic compounds that have antibacterial activity which can prevent adhesion, inhibit the enzyme activity of glucosyltransferase and kills plaque forming bacteria. Objective: To determine the effect of catechin gambier on decreasing dental plaque index. Methods: This study is a true experimental study with pre-test and post-test control group design, conducted in March – April 2019. The subjects of this study were 44 students of Faculty of Dentistry, Andalas University. The subjects were divided into two groups, one group used catechin gambier toothpaste and an control group used placebo. Plaque index was calculated using an Turesky-Gilmore-Glickman of Quingley-Hein. Data was analyzed by t-test. Results: Average of dental plaque index in treatment group was higher than placebo group. Independent t-test showed that there was significant difference of dental plaque index beetwen two groups (p&lt;0,001). Conclusion: Catechin gambier toothpaste can reduce dental plaque index.

Periodontal disorders in a cohort of patients with Cohen syndrome

Cohen syndrome (CS) is an uncommon autosomal recessive disorder due to mutations in vacuolar protein sorting 13B, with an intermittent presence of neutropenia. Contrary to other clinical phenotypic features, oral health has been little investigated in CS. We described oral health and dental hygiene in a cohort of CS patients. Twelve CS patients with neutropenia (<1500/mm3 ) were recruited in the dental department of Dijon University Hospital (France). Patients underwent oral examination, and blood samples were collected. Oral health markers were described and compared between patients with moderate and severe neutropenia (<500/mm3 ). In 12 patients (mean age = 21.1 years, SD = 13.7, six females), 45.5% brushed at least twice daily their teeth, and the same percentage annually visited a dentist. Dental plaque index was high (mean = 1.7, SD = 1.4). So was the number of lost teeth per patient, notably among adults (mean = 13.8, SD = 9.8). Elevated markers of periodontitis were noted as percentage of bleeding dental sites (mean = 70.2%, SD = 45.2%) or Gingival Index (mean = 2.2, SD = 1.0). The severity of neutropenia was correlated to the level of tooth-loss (P = .03). This study highlighted in CS patients worrisome oral health and dental follow-up in the context of intellectual disability with behavioural anomalies. More attention is needed by care-givers on oral condition in CS.

Efecto del extracto de cramberry sobre la capacidad adhesiva de la placa dental en dientes de niños de 10 años del colegio Horacio Morales Delgado. Arequipa-Peru 2016.

OBJETIVOS: Los objetivos de la presente investigación fue determinar el efecto del cranberry sobre la capacidad adhesiva de la placa dental en los niños del colegio Horacio Morales de la ciudad de Arequipa Perú. METODOLOGIA Y METODOS: Para esta investigación se probó el extracto de cranberry en 17 niños de 10 años del colegio Horacio Morales Delgado de Arequipa Perú. Esta investigación tuvo una duración de dos días, el primer día se procedió al cepillado de dientes a los niños los cuales permanecieron durante una hora sin ingesta de alimentos, al término de la cual se les tomo el índice de placa dental (grupo control). El segundo día se procedió también al cepillado de dientes a los niños e inmediatamente se les aplico el extracto de Cranberry como un colutorio, después de una hora sin haber ingerido ningún alimento ni bebidas, se les tomo el índice de placa dental. RESULTADOS: Los resultados obtenidos de la evaluación fueron medidos con el índice de placa dental el cual tiene valores de 0, 1 ,2, 3; dependiendo de cuanta placa se encuentre en la pieza dental (Índice de placa de Silness y Loe). El índice de placa dental promedio en los dientes de niños no tratados con el extracto de Cranberry y solo cepillados con pasta profiláctica fue 1.18. El índice de placa dental promedio en los dientes de niños tratados con el extracto de Cranberry fue de 0.18. Los resultados evidencian un contraste muy significativo en los dos días del experimento, llegando a la conclusión que usando el extracto de Cranberry reduce notoriamente el nivel de placa dental adherida al esmalte de las piezas dentales.

The effects of a novel herbal toothpaste on salivary lactate dehydrogenase as a measure of cellular integrity.

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a critical intracellular enzyme responsible for anaerobic respiration in pyruvate metabolism which becomes detectable in extracellular spaces after cellular breakdown. This clinical investigation examined the effects of brushing with a test toothpaste containing natural ingredients, i.e., clove (Syzygium aromaticum), aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis), amla (Emblica officinalis), neem (Azadirachta indica), tulsi (Ocimum basillicum), and honey (from Apis mellifera), and 0.96% zinc (zinc oxide, zinc citrate) and 0.76% SMFP (1000 ppm F) in a calcium carbonate base formulated with natural ingredients (Ved Shakti, Colgate Palmolive India) and a fluoride toothpaste containing 0.76% SMFP (1000 ppm F) in a calcium carbonate base (Colgate Cavity Protection, Colgate Palmolive; henceforth control) on salivary LDH in conjunction with the assessments of dental plaque and gingivitis representing oral hygiene parameters. This double-blind, two-cell study enrolled 70 adults (age range 20-59 years). Subjects completed a washout and provided baseline saliva samples for LDH analysis and clinical assessments of dental plaque and gingivitis using the Turesky Modification of Quigley-Hein and Loe-Silness methods respectively. Subjects were randomly assigned to brush their teeth with either the test or control. Post-treatment sample collection and clinical evaluations were conducted after 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 12 week sof brushing with all assessments conducted 12 h after hygiene. Statistical analyses were conducted independently for each parameter by t-test for within treatment evaluation and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) for between treatment comparisons. At baseline, treatment groups demonstrated no significant differences for LDH or dental plaque and gingival index scores. Brushing with the test demonstrated progressive reductions in salivary LDH, plaque and gingival index scores over the study duration in comparison to the control. The test demonstrated reductions in LDH of 9.5-15.4% over the study period in comparison to the control representing statistically significant effects (p < 0.05). The test also demonstrated reductions in dental plaque that ranged between 6.4 and 16.2% over the study period and gingivitis reductions that ranged between 8.2 and 23.8% representing statistically significant results (p < 0.05). Brushing with a novel herbal toothpaste demonstrated significant reductions in salivary LDH representing improvements in cellular integrity with concurrent reductions in dental plaque and gingivitis as compared to the control dentifrice. Salivary LDH measurements offer a non-invasive and objective measurement of mucosal cellular integrity complementing other evaluations and clinical assessments such as plaque and gingival index scores.

Ethnic variation of oral microbiota in children

Despite widely used preventive measures such as sealant programs to control caries prevalence, disparities are seen among ethnic groups. Supragingival plaque harbors hundreds of bacterial species, playing a significant role in oral health and disease. It is unknown whether the ethnic variation influences the supragingival microbiota in children. In our study, variations in microbiota of the supragingival plaque was investigated from 96 children between 6 and 11 years old in four ethnic groups (African American, Burmese, Caucasian, and Hispanic) from the same geographic location by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We found that the microbial alpha and beta diversity of supragingival microbiota significantly differed between ethnic groups. The supragingival plaque microbiota had the most complex microbial community in Burmese children. Within-group microbiota similarity in Burmese or Caucasian children was significantly higher than between-groups similarity. We identified seven ethnic group-specific bacterial taxa after adjusting for dental plaque index, decayed missing filled teeth (DMFT) and the frequency of brushing. Children with high plaque index and high DMFT values were more similar to each other in the overall microbial community, compared to low plaque index or low DMFT groups in which inter-subject variation is high. Several bacterial taxa associated with high plaque index or high DMFT were ethnic group-specific. These results demonstrated that supragingival microbiota differed among ethnicity groups in children.

The effect of oil pulling with coconut oil to improve dental hygiene and oral health: A systematic review

ObjectivesCoconut oil is a cheap and accessible oil for many people around the world. There are numerous advocates for the practice of oil pulling to prevent common oral diseases. Therefore determining the effectiveness of oil pulling with coconut oil could potentially have monumental benefits. This review aimed to assess the effect of oil pulling with coconut oil in improving oral health and dental hygiene. DataWe included randomized controlled trials comparing the effect of oil pulling with coconut oil on improving oral health and dental hygiene.No meta-analysis was performed due to the clinical heterogeneity and differences in the reporting of data among the included studies. SourcesSix electronic databases were screened: PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, AMED, CENTRAL and CINAHL. Study selectionElectronic searches yielded 42 eligible studies, of which four RCTs including 182 participants were included. The studies lasted between 7 and 14 days. Significant differences were demonstrated for a reduction in salivary bacterial colony count (p = 0.03) and plaque index score (p=<0.001). One study also demonstrated a significant difference in staining compared to using Chlorhexidine (p = 0.0002). However, data was insufficient for conclusive findings, the quality of studies was mixed and risk of bias was high. ConclusionThe limited evidence suggests that oil pulling with coconut oil may have a beneficial effect on improving oral health and dental hygiene. Future clinical trials are of merit considering the universal availability of the intervention. Prospective research should have a robust design with rigorous execution to provide a higher quality of evidence. Clinical significanceOil pulling with coconut oil could be used as a adjunct to normal preventative regimes to improve oral health and dental hygiene although further studies are needed to determine the level of effectiveness.

Oral hygiene in schools of 6 years of age of the Baños Rural Parish - Ecuador

Objective To determine the degree of oral hygiene in 6-year-old schoolchildren in the rural parish of Banos. Materials and Methods The study had a descriptive quantitative approach. Use the data from the digital collection in the Epi INFO program. The sample consisted of 198 6-year-old schoolchildren, of which 94 are female students representing 47% of the sample and 104 male schoolchildren representing 53% of the sample. Results The results obtained showed that the children of the parish Baths indicated 64% in a Simplified Oral Hygiene Index equal to 0.9, a bacterial plaque index equal to 0.8 and the calculation index of 0.1. The educational centers of the parish six of them visualize a oral hygiene and 3 manifestations a regular oral hygiene. Conclusions The 6-year-old schoolchildren of the Banos parish have good oral hygiene, with no difference between the two genders.

Effect of aloe vera mouthwash on dental plaque and gingivitis indices in children: A randomized controlled clinical trial

BackgroundThere is a tendency nowadays to encourage the use of natural substances in dentistry. Aloe vera is one of these substances, which has recently gained great importance in clinical research. ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness of Aloe vera mouthwash in improving plaque, gingival and gingival bleeding indices in children. Materials and methodsThe study sample consisted of (17) children [age: (8) to (12) years]. The crossover design was applied, which means that the three types of mouthwashes (experimental “Aloe vera”, positive control “chlorhexidine”, and negative control “placebo”) would be used for all participants, with a washout period of (12) days. A special plaque guard was fabricated to facilitate localized plaque accumulation for (3) days. After that period, the mouthwashes were applied for (5) days. Plaque, gingival and gingival bleeding indices were studied before plaque accumulation (T0), after plaque accumulation (T1), and after applying the mouthwashes (T2). The values of plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI) and gingival bleeding index (GBI) were measured at each studied time point (T0, T1, and T2). Then, the differences between the values at the beginning of the use of each type of the mouthwashes and at the end of the period of there use were compared. ResultsThe results showed the efficacy of Aloe vera mouthwash in improving plaque, gingival and gingival bleeding indices, which was similar to chlorhexidine mouthwash effectiveness when both compared to the placebo mouthwash. ConclusionsThe use of Aloe vera mouthwash is effective in improving oral health and preventing gingivitis.