Hard Bristles Research Articles

Differences in oral health behavior and attitudes between dental and nursing students

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the difference in oral health attitudes and behavior between dental and nursing students. Methods: A total of 27 item questions, the Hiroshima University-Dental Behavior Inventory (HU-DBI) and additionally 7 questions, were distributed to a total of 253 students, 94 dental and 159 nursing students, from Marmara University. The participating was voluntary based. Results: Seventy-one dental and 157 nursing students were willing to participate to the study. The nursing students were significantly more concerned about the appearance of their teeth (P<0.001), and gums compared to dental students (P<0.001). Percent of agree response to worrying less about visiting dentist (P<0.001), and postponing to go to dentist until they had toothache (P<0.001) were higher in nursing students than in dental ones. More dental students compared to nursing students used a toothbrush with hard bristles (P=0.004), child-sized toothbrushes (P<0.001), brushed each of their teeth carefully (P=0.006) and had used a dye to see how clean their teeth were (P<0.001). Compared to the nursing students, a higher proportion of dental students thought that they could clean their teeth well without using toothpaste (P<0.001). The HU-DBI score of dental students was significantly higher than of nursing students (P<0.001). Dental students showed better oral health attitudes and behavior compared to nursing students. Conclusion: Nursing students have low oral health awareness. More comprehensive courses on oral health care that teach and encourage the students to change their own dental health behavior and attitudes are needed. Key words: Oral health behavior, oral health attitudes, HU-DBI, dental students, nursing students

Self Reported Dental Health Attitudes and Behaviour of Dental Students in Turkey

The aim of this study was to compare the differences in self-reported oral health attitudes and behaviour between preclinical and clinical dental students in Turkey using Hiroshima University Dental Behavioural Inventory (HU-DBI). A Turkish version HU-DBI questionnaire with additional 7 questions, totally 27 items, was distributed among 1022 dental students. The response rate was 75% (486 preclinical and 278 clinical students). Significantly higher (P=0.000) percentage of the preclinical students, compared to clinical students, worry about colour of their teeth, are bothered by the colour of their gums, put off going to the dentist until they have a toothache; think that their teeth are getting worse despite their daily brushing, it is impossible to prevent gum disease with tooth brushing alone, and they cannot help having false teeth when they are old. Moreover, the preclinical students more frequently agree on that their gums tend to bleed when they brush their teeth, they use a toothbrush which has hard bristles, and they don't feel they've brushed well unless with strong strokes (P=0.000). However, a higher proportion of clinical students compared to preclinical students brush each of their teeth carefully, think that they can clean their teeth without using toothpaste, have had their dentist tell them that they brush very well (P=0.000). The HU-DBI score of clinical students (7.47±1.86) was significantly (P=0.000) higher than preclinical students (6.00±1.86). Dental students should have a comprehensive program, including their self-care regimes, starting from their first year of education.

Cleaning Efficacy and Soft Tissue Trauma After Use of Manual Toothbrushes With Different Bristle Stiffness

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of manual toothbrushes of the same type with different bristle stiffness concerning plaque removal, gingivitis development, and soft tissue trauma. In a randomized controlled trial, three groups with 40 subjects each used manual toothbrushes with either hard-, medium-, or soft-bristle stiffness. The at-home brushing time was set for 2 minutes, twice a day. Four and 8 weeks after the baseline examination, clinical parameters for plaque removal, gingivitis, and soft tissue damage were recorded again. Recruitment and examinations of the subjects were performed at the Department of Operative and Preventive Dentistry and Endodontics, Heinrich Heine University. A total of 120 volunteers (age range: 18 to 62 years) were recruited and stratified according to sex and age. Primary outcome measures were differences in the Quigley and Hein index (QHI) and papillary bleeding index (PBI) compared to baseline; secondary outcome measures were differences in the modified approximal plaque index (MAPI) and Danser gingival abrasion index. The QHI and MAPI showed lower index scores in subjects who used hard-bristled toothbrushes after 8 weeks (P <0.05 and P <0.001, respectively). In contrast, subjects who used toothbrushes with hard bristles demonstrated more gingival lesions (P <0.01) and higher PBI scores after 4 and 8 weeks (P <0.001) compared to subjects who used soft- or medium-bristled toothbrushes. Manual toothbrushes with hard bristles may better remove plaque, but may also cause more soft tissue trauma compared to brushes with softer bristles.

Oral Health Attitudes and Behavior among a Group of Turkish Dental Students

The purpose of this study was to evaluate self-reported oral health attitude and behavior among a group of Turkish dental students and to compare differences in oral health attitudes between years of study and gender. This study included 267 (153 female, 114 male) dental students. A modified English version of Hiroshima University Dental-Behavioral Inventory (HU-DBI) which consists of twenty-eight dichotomous responses (yes-no) was used. Totally 141 preclinical (1, 2 and 3(rd) years of study) and 126 clinical students (4 and 5(th) years of study) who were mean age of 21.16 participated in the study. Statistically significant differences were found between years of study for brushing each of teeth carefully, cleaning the teeth well without using toothpaste, using a toothbrush which has hard bristles and for having had their dentist tell that they brush very well. There were statistically significant differences between females and males for using a toothbrush which has hard bristles and using tooth floss regularly. Statistically significant differences were found for brushing each of the teeth carefully and using mouth wash on regular basis between smokers and non-smokers. This study confirmed that oral and dental health behavior and attitudes and also their knowledge about oral and dental health care of dental students improved with increasing level of education while oral and dental health care of female students were better than males and oral and dental health care of non-smokers were better than smokers.

Why Pick on Teeth?

In the evolution of oral hygiene practices, the toothpick is the progenitor device. Although modern variations are used interdentally, with the current emphasis on plaque control rather than gingival massage and stimulation, the toothpick has been largely superseded by floss, interproximal brushes, and other supplementary aids. The natural hard bristle toothbrush and vigorous scrub brushing popular a generation ago have been replaced by soft bristle nylon brushes and gentler, more defined brushing procedures for plaque removal in the crevicular areas. Quantitative studies support the superiority of the current techniques in maintaining periodontal health with less trauma to the oral tissues.