Reduction In Plaque Scores Research Articles

Optimizing Beneficial Oral Hygiene Care: Transitioning from Manual Brushing and Utilizing Powered Toothbrushes to Improve Plaque Control and Prevent Gingival Inflammation

Objective: The main purpose of this research is to compare the effectiveness of powered and manual toothbrushes in controlling plaque and gingival inflammation. Background: Dental health and maintaining effective oral hygiene practices are crucial. The advantages and disadvantages of using manual or powered toothbrushes in removing gingivitis and plaque are discussed. Methodology: The paper provides an in-depth literature analysis and review of previous articles that investigated the effectiveness of manual and powered toothbrushes. Terms like gingivitis, host factors, manual dexterity, effectiveness of toothbrush types, and safety were analyzed from 2000 to 2024. Results: The research concludes that powered toothbrushes achieve a moderate reduction in plaque and gingival bleeding scores compared to manual toothbrushes, which require more brushing force. Individuals needed to maintain regular oral routines and brush for at least two minutes to achieve desired results. Conclusion: Both toothbrush types are vital for dental health. Powered brushes are considered safe and more effective in plaque and gingivitis removal, especially for individuals with dexterity issues. However, manual brushes remain a choice for many people globally. A person's preference plays a role in choosing between the two types. Update Dent. Coll. j: 2024; 14(2): 38-44

Comparative Analysis of Turmeric and Chlorhexidine Mouthwashes as Anti-plaque and Anti-gingivitis Agents: An Observational Study.

Mouthwashes are highly efficacious chemical agents for managing plaque and gingivitis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of turmeric (TM) and chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash as anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis agents. This retrospective, observational study was conducted on the clinical case records of 60 patients with gingival and plaque scores of ≥ 1, who were treated with TM mouthwash as group 1 and CHX mouthwash as group 2 for a period of two months. Indices such as plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) were noted at baseline (T0) and at the end of two months of mouthwash use (T1). The data were subjected to statistical analysis. Both groups were effective in reducing all indices from T0 to T1; however, group 2 was more effective than group 1 in reducing plaque scores at T1. The results were statistically significant (p<0.05), whereas there was no significant difference in the gingival scores at T1 between both groups (p>0.05). Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed no significant differences between the groups in gingival and plaque scores over time. Wilks' Lambda test revealed that the treatment groups had a statistically significant impact on the overall treatment outcomes. Although both CHX and TM mouthwashes were equally effective as anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis agents, TM mouthwash is recommended in cases where prolonged use is required, such as in orthodontic patients.

Clinical and microbial evaluation of mouthwash containing Achyranthes aspera and Trachyspermum ammi: A randomized controlled non-inferiority trial

ObjectivesAchyranthes aspera (Apamarga) and Trachyspermum ammi (Ajwain) have been used in many clinical conditions, and it displays valuable properties as an alternative to Chlorhexidine (CHX) in the management of gingivitis. Therefore, this study aims to assess the effect of Achyranthes aspera and Trachyspermum ammi (AA + TA) based herbal mouthwash, 0.2 % CHX, and placebo mouthwash on gingival health, plaque control and antibacterial activity against specific periodontal pathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia) using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR). MethodsThis was a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial involving 108 children with plaque-induced gingivitis who were randomly assigned to three groups of 36 children each: Group A, AA + TA mouthwash; Group B, CHX mouthwash; and Group C, placebo mouthwash. Gingival index and plaque index were recorded at baseline, 7th and 21st day. RT-PCR was employed to determine the bacterial counts of each plaque sample at baseline and after 21 days. ResultsAll three groups exhibited a gradual and significant reduction in both gingival and plaque scores from baseline to days 7 and 21. However, the placebo group did not demonstrate a significant difference in scores between days 7 and 21. Furthermore, a significant reduction in bacterial counts of P. gingivalis and T. forsythia was observed in the groups receiving CHX and AA + TA mouthwash after 21 days of intervention compared to the placebo group. ConclusionAA + TA mouthwash demonstrated non-inferiority in anti-gingivitis and anti-plaque properties compared to CHX, suggesting its potential suitability as an alternative to CHX when used in conjunction with mechanical plaque control measures.

Effect of oil pulling on the Streptococcus mutans concentation in plaque around orthodontic brackets -A prospective clinical study.

Fixed orthodontic appliances create areas of plaque stagnation leading to an increase in the volume, structure, and composition of plaque. This increases the chances of decalcification and white spot lesions. Oil pulling, an ancient practice involving swishing oil in the mouth, has demonstrated a significant reduction in plaque scores after 45 days, and a reduction in salivary Streptococcus mutans concentration in few studies done in nonorthodontic subjects. The aim was to compare the concentration of S. mutans in plaque around orthodontic brackets in patients using oil pulling with sesame oil and those on routine oral hygiene. Twenty subjects requiring fixed orthodontic treatment were divided into two equal groups: Group A-Oil pulling and Group B-Control. All subjects were instructed to follow common oral hygiene methods and in addition, Group A was instructed to perform oil pulling for 30 days starting 1 month after placement of fixed appliances. Plaque specimens were collected from labial surfaces of maxillary lateral incisors and quantification of S. mutans was done using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Mean and standard deviations for descriptive statistics, paired, and unpaired sample t-tests were analyzed. Comparison of S. mutans concentration between T1 and T2 demonstrated a significant difference in both control and study groups. The experimental group showed significantly lesser S. mutans concentration compared to the control group. Oil-pulling therapy with sesame oil resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the concentration of S. mutans in the plaque around orthodontic brackets.

Meta-Analysis: Effectiveness of Dental Health Education with Plaque Control in Children 6-12 Years Old

Introduction: Dental and oral health problems in the world are still very concerning. Many dental health programs have been carried out. Plaque control is one way to maintain oral hygiene. The research objective was to determine the effectiveness of a dental health program based on plaque control in elementary school-age children. A systemic review of the meta-analysis was designed based on the Preferred Reporting Item for System Review and Metha Analysis). Methods and Material: Data search was conducted on the PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Articles published between 2012-2022 with inclusion criteria: Population (P): Children aged 6-12 years boys and girls. Intervention (I): Dental health education for plaque control programs in schools. Comparison (C): schools without dental health programs. Out came (O): Index plaque. Study Design (S): Experimental Study with Random Control Trial. The keywords used are: Dental Health Education. Exclusion criteria: research without ethical clearance, children with special needs. Screening process: Screening was carried out by 4 (four) researchers. Statistical Analysis used: Analisys data used Revman. Results: In the research results table it can be seen that there is a difference in plaque scores between the pre test and post test. And the P value between the intervention group and the control group found a significant difference. Conclusions: Dental health education programs conducted in schools can reduce plaque scores in children 6-12 years old.

Decreased Plaque Score Due to Gargling with Guava Leaf Decoction Among Adolescents at the “Sejati Muhammadiyah Rappang” Social Welfare Institution Sidenreng Rappang Regency

Plaque plays an important role in the occurrence of dental and oral diseases such as dental caries and periodontal disease. Plaque control needs to be done to reduce the buildup of plaque on the surface of the teeth. Gargling with boiled water from guava leaves is one effort that is believed to be able to reduce dental plaque scores because it has antiseptic, antibacterial and antimicrobial activity. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of gargling boiled water with guava leaves on reducing plaque scores in adolescents at the Sejati Muhammadiyah Rappang Child Welfare Institution. The type of research used is experimental research using a One group pre-test post-test research design. The sample in the study was 30 people taken using purposive sampling technique. Before gargling boiled guava leaf water, the participants' average plaque score was 2.193 with moderate criteria, there was a decrease of 0.536 to 1.656 with good criteria. The data was analyzed using the Paired T-Test and obtained a result of 0.001 or p &lt; 0.05 so that the null hypothesis was rejected and the alternative hypothesis was accepted. Based on the research results, it can be concluded that there is an effect of gargling boiled guava leaf water on reducing plaque scores in adolescents at the Sejati Muhammadiyah Rappang Child Welfare Institution.

Efficacy of an automatic electric toothbrush with nylon bristles in dental plaque removal: a cross-over randomized controlled trial

ObjectivesThe objective of this single-use, five-treatment, five-period, cross-over randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to compare the efficacy in dental plaque removal of a new Y-shaped automatic electric toothbrush (Y-brush) compared to a U-shaped automatic electric toothbrush (U-brush), a manual toothbrushing procedure (for 45 and 120 s), and no brushing (negative control).Materials and methodsEligible participants were volunteer students randomized to the treatments in the five periods of the study. The primary outcome measure was the reduction in full-mouth plaque score (FMPS) after brushing while the secondary outcome variable was a visual analogic scale (VAS) on subjective clean mouth sensation. Mixed models were performed for difference in FMPS and VAS.ResultsAfter brushing procedures, manual toothbrushing (120 s) showed a statistically significant reduction in FMPS than Y-brush (difference 36.9; 95%CI 29.6 to 44.1, p < 0.0001), U-brush (difference 42.3; 95%CI 35.1 to 49.6, p < 0.0001), manual brushing (45 s) (difference 13.8; 95%CI 6.5 to 21.1, p < 0.0001), and No brushing (difference 46.6; 95%CI 39.3 to 53.9, p < 0.0001). Y-brush was significantly more effective than No brushing (difference 9.8; 95%CI 2.5 to 17.0, p = 0.0030), while there was no significant difference compared to U- brush. Similar results were obtained for the differences in the Clean Mouth VAS.ConclusionsY-brush was significantly more effective than no brushing (negative control) in removing dental plaque. When compared to manual toothbrushing for both 45 and 120 s, however, Y-brush was less effective in dental plaque removal.Clinical relevanceModified design of automatic toothbrushing devices could improve plaque reduction, especially in patients with intellectual disabilities or motor difficulties.

Combined Efficacy of Advanced Oral Hygiene Aids and Active Reminders in Maintaining the Oral Hygiene of Patients with Fixed Orthodontic Appliances: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objectives To evaluate the efficacy of water irrigating devices, powered toothbrushes, and active repeated oral hygiene reminders on oral hygiene of fixed orthodontic patients. Materials and Methods This was a randomized, examiner-blind clinical trial involving fixed orthodontic appliance patients. Patients were recruited within six months of bonding on both the arches. Eighty patients were randomly assigned to four groups; groups 1 and 3 subjects received standard oral hygiene procedures and used manual orthodontic toothbrushes, and subjects in groups 2 and 4 used powered toothbrushes and water irrigators for oral hygiene maintenance during the study period. In addition, repeated oral hygiene reminders via SMS were sent to subjects in groups 1 and 2, whereas groups 3 and 4 subjects received only oral motivation. The principal investigator assessed the plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) at baseline (T0) and after 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks, that is, T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. Results Group 2 and group 4 subjects showed statistically significant reduction in PI ( p &lt; .001) and GI ( p &lt; .001) scores at the end of study interval; however, the magnitude of decrease was less in group 4 in comparison to group 2. Intergroup comparisons between group 1 versus group 3 and group 2 versus group 4 were made to evaluate the efficacy of reminders. Statistically significant reduction was observed in group 2 as compared to group 4 at T4 ( p &lt; .001) when compared to T1 ( p &lt; .87). Conclusion Using powered toothbrushes and oral irrigators resulted in a statistically more significant reduction in plaque and gingivitis scores than conventional procedures. Active reminders had a catalytic effect in improving the oral hygiene.

Clinical Evaluation of Diode Laser as an Adjunct to Scaling and Root Planing in Patients With Chronic Periodontitis and Type II Diabetes Mellitus: A Split-Mouth Study.

The primary goal of periodontal therapy is to arrest the inflammatory disease process which is done by non-surgical and surgical therapies in order to reduce the microorganisms.The outcome of periodontal therapy may not reveal the desired results owing to inaccessible areas for instrumentation, pathogenicity, resistance of the microorganisms, or even due to compromised host response to the treatment. Thus, adjunctive laser therapy has been proposed as a novel treatment modality in the treatment of periodontal disease. Aim: The aim of this study was to clinically evaluate the effect of a 980 nm diode laser (DEN10B; Wuhan Gigaa Optronics Technology Co., Ltd., Wuhan, China) therapy as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in patients with chronic periodontitis and type II diabetes. Twenty patients were divided into two groups in a split-mouth study design. Group I (Control) comprised mechanical debridement alone and Group II (test) comprised mechanical debridement followed by adjunctive laser therapy. The clinical parameters were recorded at baseline, six weeks, and three months, and the results were analyzed. There was a significant improvement in gingival and plaque index in the test group. Though there was no significant improvement in probing pocket depth and clinical attachment, the results in the test group were superior relative to the control group. Non-surgical periodontal therapy with adjunctive use of diode laser is effective in the management of generalized chronic periodontitis in patients with type II diabetes which led to a significant reduction in plaque score, gingival index score, probing pocket depth, and gain in clinical attachment level.

Effect of game-based teaching on the oral health of children: a systematic review of randomised control trials.

Poor oral health during childhood can lead to various oral diseases and have long-term implications for dental health. Innovative and engaging oral health educational approaches such as game-based teaching have emerged as a promising modality for health education. This systematic review examined the effectiveness of game-based teaching methods on the oral health of children (4-12 yrs). Scopus, Medline and Web of Science databases were searched according to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria included randomised trials that compared traditional methods of oral health education with game-based interventions in preschoolers and school-age children. The quality of the data was determined using Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (ROB-2). A total of seven studies that examined 1097 children (4-12 yrs) were included in this systematic review with the association of game-based teaching of oral health. The findings indicated that the utilization of game-based methods significantly improved children's oral health outcomes when compared to traditional teaching approaches. Specifically, the game-based interventions demonstrated positive effects on various aspects of oral health, including enhanced oral health knowledge, improved oral hygiene scores, and reductions in debris and plaque scores. The game-based interventions were found to be more effective in promoting oral health when compared to conventional methods of teaching, such as verbal instructions or educational posters. Based on the limited evidence available, game-based teaching appears to be an effective approach for promoting oral health among children, consistently demonstrating positive outcomes, including improved oral health knowledge, enhanced oral hygiene scores, and reductions in debris and plaque scores. Further well-designed trials adhering to reporting guidelines and using objective measures are necessary before outlining universal guidelines for best practice.

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.

Comparative evaluation of different oil pulling agents and 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash as an adjunct to full-mouth scaling and root planing in plaque-induced gingivitis: A single-blind randomized control trial

Abstract Introduction: Oil pulling is old Indian natural daily practice which has been written in Ayurveda texts such as Charak and Sushruta Samhita. The act of swishing oil around the mouth removes microbes. Therefore, oil pulling reduces plaque-induced gingivitis. Naturally occurring products like coconut oil and sesame oil are enriched with antimicrobial activity. These oils are cheaper and easily available. Therefore, the aim of this article is to compare the efficacy of coconut, sesame oil, and chlorhexidine mouthwash as an adjunct to full-mouth scaling and root planing (SRP) in patients with plaque-induced gingivitis. Aim and Objectives: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of coconut oil sesame oil and chlorhexidine mouthwash as an adjunct to SRP in patients with plaque-induced gingivitis. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients of plaque-induced gingivitis were randomly divided into four groups: SRP, coconut oil, sesame oil, and chlorhexidine mouthwash. Clinical measurements included plaque index, gingival index (GI), and simplified oral hygiene index at baseline, 7 days, 15 days, 1 month, and 3 months. Microbial analysis was carried out. Results: There was a significant reduction in plaque and gingival scores from baseline to 3 months for the chlorhexidine group. Intragroup comparison shows a statistically significant reduction in plaque and GI. Conclusion: Oil pulling considers to affect microbes to treat plaque-induced gingivitis.

Effectiveness of Egg Carton Simulation Model as a Method of Teaching Tooth Brushing in School going Children – A Quasi Experimental Study

Background: The majority of oral diseases, which are among the most common illnesses worldwide, can be avoided. Adequate oral health depends on establishing significant tooth brushing routines to prevent gingivitis and dental caries and controlling the consumption of sugared foods. Elementary schools are a potential target for these interventions to support children in developing healthy behaviors independently. Large scale school-based programs are effective in reducing preventable diseases through cost-effective interventions. Objectives: To establish and assess a new activity-based approach for teaching schoolchildren regarding tooth brushing, by using egg cartons as models for teeth. Materials and Methods: Two methods of teaching tooth brushing technique to school children of age group of 8–12 years were compared: (i) Conventional method (n = 15): Instructions on study model (ii) egg carton simulation method (n = 15): Hands-on activity on egg cartons as simulated models. The outcome assessed was the plaque index (Silness and Loe, 1964). Gender-wise comparisons were done using a Chi-square test for comparing the categorical variables. Results: Plaque scores compared using an independent t-test showed significant improvement in the egg carton group after the teaching sessions (P &lt; 0.01 for the egg carton method). Conclusion: The egg carton simulation method is an effective method for plaque removal compared to the conventional approach as there is significant plaque score reduction in children after the teaching session.

COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF CHLORHEXIDINE AND SODIUM BICARBONATE DENTIFRICES IN PLAQUE AND GINGIVAL INFLAMMATION REDUCTION: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Objectives: To determine the effi cacy of Chlorhexidine dentifrice compared to Sodium Bicarbonate dentifrice in plaque and gingival Infl ammation reduction. Materials and Methods: From May 2022 to August 2022, a randomized controlled experiment was carried out in the Periodontology Department of Sardar Begum Dental College and Hospital Peshawar. Using WHO formulae for sample size, 98 patients were selected. The age range of the patient was chosen between 13-40 years. The mean age presentation was 19.7 ± 4.9 years. The females were N=56 (57.1%) predominant than males N=42 (42.9%). The patients were placed into two groups of 49 each. Group A received dentifrice containing chlorhexidine, whereas Group B received dentifrice containing sodium bicarbonate. The data was entered into a structured proforma. SPSS 22.0 was used to analyze data. The Chi-Square test was used to compare the means of the two groups. Values of ≤ .05 were considered signifi cant. Results: The mean plaque scores for both groups are shown in Table 7. Group A (Chlorhexidine group) participants had an initial mean plaque score of 2.7, while the plaque score after the intervention was 1.2. The initial mean plaque score was 2.7 in the participants of group B (Sodium Bicarbonate group), while the mean plaque score after intervention was 1.75. This shows that both dentifrices reduced plaque but chlorhexidine was more eff ective than sodium bicarbonate in plaque reduction. Similarly, both (Chlorhexidine and Sodium Bicarbonate) reduced the gingival index score, but chlorhexidine was more eff ective than sodium bicarbonate in reducing gingival inflammation. Conclusion: Both the dentifrices show a significant reduction in both the plaque scores and gingival scores after usage. Chlorhexidine group showed a notable reduction in plaque and gingival scores as compared to sodium bicarbonate.

The Effectiveness of Using an Electric Toothbrush as a Plaque Control Tool in School-Autistic Children

Background: Autism is a condition of developmental abnormalities that have an impact on various aspects of life, including dental and oral health. An electric toothbrush is needed as a means of plaque control. Electric toothbrushes offer advantages such as timer features, increase accessibility, etc. Purpose: This study aims to determine the effectiveness of electric toothbrushes as a means of plaque control in children with autism. Methods: This study used the One Group Pretest Posttest research design and consisted of 24 subjects. This study used the Loe and Silness plaque index measurement. Before the research, education was carried out on the research subjects. The study was conducted by comparing the effectiveness of manual and electric toothbrushes on research subjects. Index scores were recorded before and after treatment. Results: The use of manual and electric toothbrushes both reduced the Loe and Silness plaque index scores. The use of a manual toothbrush reduced the mean plaque index score by 0.828 (34.07%). The use of an electric toothbrush reduced the average plaque index score by 1.10 (48.24%). The results of the paired t test (P &lt;0.05) showed that there was a significant difference between the use of a manual toothbrush and an electric toothbrush. Conclusion: The use of an electric toothbrush can reduce plaque scores and is effective as a means of plaque control in school-age autistic children.

Comparative evaluation of efficacy and safety of calcipotriol versus calcitriol ointment, both in combination with narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy in the treatment of stable plaque psoriasis.

Vitamin D analogues and NBUVB are both well-recognised modes of therapy in the treatment of chronic stable plaque psoriasis. The objective of this open label intraindividual, left right study was to compare two different vitamin D analogues, calcipotriol and calcitriol, in combination with NBUVB phototherapy in psoriasis. Thirty patients with stable plaque psoriasis were enrolled for a 12-week clinical trial. The target lesion on the left side was treated topically with calcitriol ointment, while that on the right side was treated with calcipotriol ointment once daily. The whole body was irradiated with narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy (NBUVB) three times per week. Efficacy was assessed by target plaque scoring. Both therapies resulted in a statistically significant reduction in erythema, scaling, thickness, and target plaque score, seen as early as 2 weeks into therapy. However, the calcipotriol combination led to an earlier clearance of plaques and a lesser relapse rate than the calcitriol combination. The number of treatment sessions and cumulative NBUVB doses were significantly lower in the calcipotriol-treated group. Both vitamin D analogues appear to be safe, effective, and cosmetically acceptable, with calcipotriol being more efficacious, well tolerated, with a rapid onset of action and a better maintenance of response.

The efficacy of manual toothbrushes in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances: a randomized clinical trial

ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate three types of manual toothbrushes [Cross action (CA), Flat trim (FT), and orthodontic type (OT)] in terms of efficacy in plaque removal in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment.BackgroundManual toothbrushes are an essential part of oral hygiene for primary prevention. Plaque control, however, can be influenced by a number of individual and material-related factors. Individual factors include the presence of fixed orthodontic appliances on tooth surfaces, such as brackets and bands, which create difficulties with oral hygiene and lead to plaque formation. The evidence for the effectiveness of advanced bristle designs (multilevel, criss-cross) of the manual toothbrush alone in removing plaque in patients undergoing orthodontic therapy is limited.MethodsThe experiment followed the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines. This was a three treatment, three-period crossover clinical trial with a single brushing exercise. Thirty subjects were randomized to one of the three treatment sequences of different bristle designs: (CA, FT, and OT). The primary outcome measure was the difference in the plaque scores (baseline minus post-brushing) at each study period, as determined by the Turesky-Modified Quigley–Hein Plaque Index.ResultsOf the thirty-four subjects enrolled in the study, thirty of the subjects met the inclusion criteria and completed all three periods of the study. The mean age was 19.5 ± 1.52 years, with a range of 18–23 years. The differences between treatments in plaque score reduction after brushing were statistically significant (p-value < .001). The treatment differences were statistically significant (p-value < .001) favoring the FT toothbrush over the OT and CA types of toothbrush designs. On the contrary, the difference between the OT and CA types was not statistically significant.ConclusionsPlaque was significantly removed by the conventional FT toothbrush after a single brushing compared to the OT and CA types.

Role of nutritional supplements on oral health in adults - A systematic review.

Purpose: The word 'diet' usually encompasses the consumption of food that includes all the necessary nutrients required for the optimal functioning of the body. Nutritional supplements hold a supreme position due to the demanding lifestyles or medical conditions in this current era. Although medical literature has sufficient evidence exploring the effect of nutrients on general health, this systematic review aimed at specifically evaluating the role of nutritional supplements on oral health in adults. Methods: PRISMA guidelines were followed in conducting this systematic review where four electronic databases including Scopus, PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science were reviewed. Based on the inclusion criteria, four studies exploring the effect of oral nutritional supplements on oral health among the adult population were included in this systematic review. Results: This review generated evidence suggesting a positive effect of nutritional supplements on oral health. These findings were depicted in the form of a reduction in plaque scores, probing depths, gingival inflammation, and greater improvement in periodontal healing among individuals with higher intakes of nutritional supplements within recommended doses. Conclusions: The systematic review outlines the positive impact of consuming nutritional supplements in the recommended dosage on oral health.Additionally, this review stresses the necessity for interventional studies to further investigate the effects of nutritional supplements on oral health, particularly in regard to periodontal healing. PROSPERO registration: CRD42021287797 (27/11/2021).

Safety and Efficacy of Plaque Removal Using Manual and Powered Toothbrush in Cerebral Palsy Children by Parents/Caregivers: A Randomized Control Crossover Trial.

The aim of our study was to check the safety and efficacy of plaque removal using manual and powered toothbrush in cerebral palsy children by parents/caregivers. This was a single blinded, crossover randomized control trial conducted on 60 cerebral palsy children between the age of 6 to 14 years. They were randomly divided using a flip coin method into two groups: group A-manual toothbrush and group B-powered toothbrush. The plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), and gingival abrasion (GA) score were measured at baseline, then at an interval of 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks. This was followed by a crossover between two groups with a washout period of 1 week. Both manual and powered toothbrush showed a significant reduction in plaque and gingival score before and after crossover when compared to baseline (p < 0.05). The GA score was reduced to 100% in both groups. However, there was no statistically significant difference between both the groups before and after the crossover. Also, through the questionnaire it was observed that both child (86.6%) and parent (70%) showed positive feedback towards powered toothbrush. It can be concluded from the present study that the efficacy of a powered toothbrush is comparable to that of a manual toothbrush. Parents and caregivers, on the contrary, displayed a favorable attitude towards the use of powered toothbrushes due to their ease of use. Cerebral palsy is one of the most common neurological disorders among children. It is associated with poor motor skills and manual dexterity that hampers their ability to brush and thus leads to poor oral hygiene. A powered toothbrush seems more appealing and is specially designed for patients with poor neuromotor coordination. Deshpande AN, Naik K, Deshpande N, et al. Safety and Efficacy of Plaque Removal using Manual and Powered Toothbrush in Cerebral Palsy Children by Parents/Caregivers: A Randomized Control Crossover Trial. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(2):344-349.

Does Providing Story Books to Children Lead to an Improvement in Oral Hygiene in School Children: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Objective: To assess the effect of giving tooth brushing storybooks along with verbal oral hygiene (OHI) instructions on plaque levels to schoolchildren. Methodology: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in a private school in Islamabad from October to November 2022. Children in Class V were selected as the Experimental Group I (Storybooks + OHI), while Class IV children were placed in the Control Group II (OHI alone). There were 20 students in each group. Plaque levels were compared at the baseline (before intervention) and after seven days. Tooth brushing practices were recorded at the baseline. Quantitative variables, such as age and mean plaque score were reported as mean and standard deviation. Categorical variables such as gender and tooth brushing frequency were described as frequencies and percentages. Results: The mean age of the children was 9.6 + 1.08 years. A total of 16 (40%) boys and 24 (60%) girls were included in the study. Children in Group II had significantly better self-reported tooth brushing practices with 16 (80%) children brushing twice a day, as compared to 10 (50%) children from Group I (p = 0.041). There was no difference in the reduction in plaque scores between group I (0.14 + 0.21) and group II (0.08 + 0.21; p = 0.382). Conclusion: Giving story books to children is not an effective intervention to improve the oral hygiene status of children, as compared to oral hygiene instructions alone.