SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Toothbrushing”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

Persistence of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci in toothbrushes and removable orthodontic appliances following treatment of pharyngotonsillitis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the persistence of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) in toothbrushes and removable orthodontic appliances (ROAs) in children who suffer from acute GABHS pharyngotonsillitis and the association with penicillin treatment failure. SETTING: Private practice setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Pharyngotonsillar and toothbrush cultures were obtained from 104 children with acute GABHS pharyngotonsillitis before and after 10 days of penicillin V potassium therapy. Cultures of ROAs were also obtained from 21 children. The persistence of GABHS in 10 daily rinsed and 10 nonrinsed toothbrushes was studied in vitro. RESULTS: Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci were isolated from 11 (11%) of the toothbrushes and 18 (17%) of the patients after the completion of penicillin therapy. Toothbrushes of 5 (28%) of the 18 children who harbored GABHS were colonized with the organism. Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci were also isolated from 4 (19%) of 21 ROAs after therapy. In vitro studies illustrated the persistence of GABHS in nonrinsed toothbrushes for up to 15 days. In contrast, the organism was not isolated from rinsed toothbrushes beyond day 3. CONCLUSION: Toothbrushes and ROAs that harbor GABHS may contribute to the persistence of GABHS in the oropharynx and may account for the failure of penicillin therapy in some cases of pharyngotonsillitis.

Child↗

PubMed1999

Clinical study on the plaque-removing ability of a new triple-headed toothbrush.

The aim of this study was to determine the plaque removing ability of a new toothbrush with a u-shaped head (Superbrush) compared to a conventional manual toothbrush (Elmex) and an electric toothbrush with a rotating head (Braun Plak control). 36 healthy volunteers, aged 6-60 years, participated in this single blind cross-over study. They were randomly assigned to 3 groups (A, B, C) with 12 participants each. To obtain a plaque-free condition at the baseline, professional toothcleaning was performed in each participant. After instructions on how to use the toothbrushes, each group started the experiment with a different type of toothbrush. After 1 week of application, the Quigley-Hein plaque index (QHI) and the proximal plaque index (API) were used to assess the oral hygiene status of each participant. This was followed by 1 week of recess before each group switched to the next type of toothbrush. The duration of the study was 5 weeks. All examinations were performed by 1 examiner. Compared to the 2 other brushes, the Superbrush was more effective in removing plaque (medians of QHI: 0.84 versus 1.56 (Elmex) and 1.56 (Braun); p<0.001; medians of API: 0.69 versus 0.94 (Elmex) and 0.87 (Braun); p<0.001). The study indicated that the new toothbrush may be an effective alternative to commonly used toothbrushes.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Sonic and mechanical toothbrushes. An in vitro study showing altered microbial surface structures but lack of effect on viability.

The purpose of the present study was to compare the in vitro effects of a mechanical and a sonic toothbrush on the viability of Actinomyces viscosus, the rationale being that induction of irreparable microbial damage resulting from aggressive mechanical action or sonic energy, may inhibit or disrupt the process of successional colonization. Cultures of A. viscosus were grown to a standardized optical density and subdivided into 3 treatment groups of 20 specimens each. Treatment groups consisted of an untreated control and exposure to a mechanical or sonic toothbrush for 15, 30, 45, and 60 s. Subsequent to the prescribed treatment, samples were taken from each specimen dish, subcultured, and the number of CFUs determined. Additional samples were obtained for negative staining and examination by electron microscopy. The mean number of CFUs for each treatment group at each treatment interval were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and multiple pairwise comparisons. Results showed a significant main effect for toothbrushes (p<0.0001) and exposure time (p<0.01), but only marginal significance for the interaction of toothbrush with exposure time (p<0.055). Post-hoc tests showed a significantly greater number of CFUs for the sonic toothbrush compared to both the untreated control and mechanical toothbrush groups. Electron microscopic examination revealed a decrease in aggregation tendency and loss of fimbriae in the sonic toothbrush group. Based on the lack of morphologic evidence that would indicate cell damage and the increase in CFUs over that of the control group, it appeared that neither the mechanical or sonic toothbrushes affected cell viability.

Actinomyces viscosus↗

PubMed1998

ADRF Trebitsch Scholarship. The microbial contamination of toothbrushes. A pilot study.

Ten individuals were each supplied with a new toothbrush of the same type and brand, together with identical tubes of fluoridated toothpaste. After a three-week period, during which subjects were asked to follow their usual oral hygiene practices, the toothbrushes were collected and assayed for microbial contamination using a range of selective growth media. The total microbial load per toothbrush was found to be 10(4) to 10(5) colony forming units. Staphylococci were found on all toothbrushes and streptococci on all but one. These two genera were also quantitatively dominant. Candida, corynebacteria, pseudomonads and coliforms were identified in 70, 60, 50 and 30 per cent of toothbrushes, respectively. However, mutans streptococci, lactobacilli and black-pigmented Gram-negative anaerobic rods were not detected on any of the toothbrushes. For each individual, information on variables such as toothbrush rinsing practices and post-brushing storage methods and environment was collected. No obvious relationship between such variables and microbial load was apparent but it is suggested that more extensive studies are needed, taking into account additional parameters such as age and degree of toothbrush wear and the use of pre-brushing mouthwashes.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Effects of toothbrushing prior and/or subsequent to dietary acid application on smear layer formation and the patency of dentinal tubules: an SEM study.

Dentine sensitivity is a quite common condition, associated with open dentinal tubules patent all the way to the pulp. The purpose of this in vitro study was to assess the effects of toothbrushing preceded and/or followed by dietary acid application on the patency of dentinal tubules. Dentine sections were prepared from recently extracted human molars and, after removal of the smear layer, were treated as follows: 1) toothbrushing alone; 2) toothbrushing followed by exposure to orange juice; and 3) toothbrushing subsequent to orange juice exposure. All specimens were observed in the scanning electron microscope (SEM) at a standard magnification and the patency of the dentinal tubules estimated. Results showed that toothbrushing alone was the most effective in occluding the tubules, followed by toothbrushing subsequent to dietary acid application, and then by toothbrushing prior to dietary acid application. From the results of this study it may be that in cases of dentine sensitivity toothbrushing should not precede or follow dietary acid application but be separate from mealtimes. Clinical research is required to confirm the findings of this in vitro study.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1999

Ethnomedical aspects of the commonly used toothbrush sticks in Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the botanical identity, cytotoxicity, and antibacterial property of the commonly used toothbrush sticks in Ethiopia. SETTING: Research laboratories of the departments of Biology and Chemistry, Addis Ababa University between December 1993 and May 1995. METHODS: The study was performed by purchasing the commonly used toothbrush sticks from street markets in various towns of Ethiopia. Voucher specimens were collected and their botanical identity was determined following floral keys. The toothbrush sticks were ground in a mill and soaked in absolute methanol for 24 hours and filtered. The filtrates were dried in a rotary evaporator and the crude extracts were stored at 4 degrees C. The crude methanol extracts were used to test their antibacterial activity by impregnating into filter paper discs and placing on test plates of Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cerues. Their lethality to brine shrimp (Artemia salina) was performed following standard procedures. RESULTS: Twenty different species of plant used as toothbrush were collected and their botanical identity determined. Crude methanol extracts of only Agave sisalana, Birbira and Hypericum revolutum test concentrations up to 500 micrograms/ml showed weak toxicity to brine shrimp. All the extracts showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus by agar diffusion method. CONCLUSION: Toothbrush sticks can be used by the vast majority of people who cannot afford buying the commercial toothbrush and toothpaste. The toothbrush sticks may be important for the oral and dental hygiene of the users and hence may be useful in decreasing dental caries. Further studies should focus on the effect of the toothbrush sticks against other common bacteria that are associated with dental diseases.

Attitude to Health↗

PubMed1999

Plaque removal efficacy of the V-shaped toothbrush with new designs in bristle arrangement.

Experimental bristle arrangements were applied to a conventional V-shaped bristle-design toothbrush in an effort to improve plaque removal efficacy in interproximal areas. A single-blind cross-over study was performed to evaluate the plaque removal efficacy of this new bristle arrangement by comparing it to either a more conventional V-shaped toothbrush or a flat-headed toothbrush. Plaque removal efficacy was determined by assessing the percentage of plaque score reduction following a single controlled brushing. The new toothbrush bristle arrangement had a significantly higher plaque removal percentage efficacy than both the V-shaped toothbrush (59.1% vs. 48.5%; p = 0.0092) and the flat-headed toothbrush (65.3% vs. 55.3%; p = 0.0260) in interproximal areas. These differences were also consistent with whole mouth comparisons. When the subjects were asked about their preferences for the three different bristle formats used in this study, there was no significant difference of opinion found. These findings indicated a superiority of the new toothbrush to the other two, more conventional toothbrush bristle styles on plaque removal efficacy with these study subjects, but no particular preference for bristle design.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Meswak chewing stick versus conventional toothbrush as an oral hygiene aid.

This study consisted of two trials. Trial 1 compared the meswak with the toothbrush when used twice and five times a day. Trial 2 compared habitual meswak users with toothbrush users. Under experimental conditions, a significant reduction in gingivitis was found both buccally (p less than 0.01) and lingually (p less than 0.05) after using a meswak five times a day compared with a conventional toothbrush. Twice a day brushing with a meswak produced a significant reduction in gingivitis buccally (p less than 0.005) compared with toothbrushing, but lingually the difference was insignificant. There were no significant differences in plaque scores between a meswak and a conventional toothbrush when brushing was continued five times a day. Plaque scores became significantly higher when a meswak was used only twice a day compared with toothbrushing, specifically on the lingual surfaces of the teeth (p less than 0.01). Habitual meswak users showed a significant reduction in gingival bleeding (p less than 0.05) and interproximal bone height (p less than 0.02) compared with toothbrush users. The differences in plaque scores and pocket depth measurements between the two groups were insignificant. The results imply that a meswak, used five times a day, may offer a suitable alternative to a toothbrush for reducing plaque and gingivitis. However, meswak may not be sufficient for maintaining interproximal dental health when used without the support of other oral hygiene aids.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Toothbrushing effectiveness of a group of six-year-old uninstructed schoolchildren.

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of toothbrushing in 124 six year-old uninstructed schoolchildren. The toothbrushing conditions were made to closely simulate the toothbrushing procedure carried out at home. The amount of plaque before and after toothbrushing was assessed using the Modified Personal Hygiene Performance Index. An overall reduction of 54.0 per cent in plaque score was observed following toothbrushing. This reduction was much more favourable than other reported studies using subjects of similar age group. However most of the plaque that remained following brushing were accumulated in the gingival areas. The highest prebrushing score and the least effective toothbrushing ability was observed among the Malay schoolchildren. The pre and postbrushing scores among the Chinese and Indians were comparable. There was no statistically significant difference in toothbrushing ability between boys and girls at this age. The children brushed their anterior teeth better than their posterior and the facial surfaces better than the lingual. The greatest percentage reduction in plaque score was observed in the occlusal/incisal areas with the gingival areas being the least accessible. The conclusions of this study points to the lack of manual dexterity of children of this age group to effectively brush their teeth and the need for proper parental supervision in assisting them to carry out the toothbrushing procedure.

Child↗

PubMed1993

Laboratory evaluations of interproximal access of two differently bristled manual toothbrushes.

The Colgate Rippled Bristles toothbrush was compared to the Oral-B 40 toothbrush using a laboratory device which simulates horizontal and vertical brushing movements under pressures of 250, 500 and 750 grams. Interproximal access was determined by measuring the width of the brushing stroke on pressure-sensitive paper surrounding anterior or posterior tooth shapes. The Colgate Rippled toothbrush was consistently superior to the Oral-B 40 toothbrush in accomplishing interproximal access in the laboratory tests performed here. On anterior-shaped teeth, the superiority (p < 0.05-0.01) was evident at all pressures tested, with both horizontal and vertical brushing movements. On posterior tooth shapes the Colgate Rippled toothbrush was superior (p < 0.01) to the Oral-B 40 toothbrush at all brushing weights and with both vertical and horizontal motions. When total interproximal access efficacy means were calculated for all brushing weights, the Colgate Rippled toothbrush was superior (p < 0.05-0.01) to the Oral-B 40 toothbrush on both anterior and posterior tooth shapes in the vertical and horizontal brushing motions.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1993

Dental plaque removal in adults using a newly developed, 'Concept 45 degrees' toothbrush.

A two by two factorial designed study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of the newly designed 'Concept 45 degrees' toothbrush on removal of dental plaque, to a standard conventional toothbrush using either the roll technique or the Bass technique of toothbrushing. One hundred male soldiers, aged 21-22 years were stratified into four balanced groups according to baseline plaque scores obtained from a pretest period. They received oral prophylaxis and were randomly assigned into one of the four experimental groups: (a) standard conventional toothbrush with the roll technique, (b) standard conventional toothbrush with the Bass technique, (c) the 'Concept 45 degrees' toothbrush with the roll technique, and (d) the 'Concept 45 degrees' with the Bass technique. The results showed that the 'Concept 45 degrees' toothbrush using the Bass technique removed dental plaque more effectively than the standard conventional toothbrush with either technique.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Effect of a clamp on toothbrush bristle deterioration.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate, in vitro, the effectiveness of a device to prevent toothbrush deterioration. Ten toothbrushes from each of four brands, Oral-B 40, Py-co-pay Softex 12.0 row, Butler #330, and Oral-B 20, were divided into control and experimental groups. Toothbrushes were fixed into a machine that simulated toothbrushing by producing a reciprocating motion 41.5 mm in length at a rate of 380 strokes/min. Bristles slid over a ceramic disc that had a hardness similar to dental enamel. Pressure (450 g) was applied at a right angle to the toothbrush while it moved back and forth in a slurry of toothpaste. The pressure was calibrated with load cells. Toothbrushes were run for 15 minutes followed by a drying cycle for a total of four hours, or approximately equivalent to brushing twice daily for six months. During the drying cycle the bristles of the toothbrushes in the experimental group were compressed 3/4 their length from the brush head with a clamp (Gregory Patent #4884311). Bristle deterioration was evaluated based on Wear Index (WI), a quantitative means of ranking brushes in various stages of deterioration. Data on WI and WR showed that toothbrushes in the experimental group had significantly (< or = 0.005) less deterioration. Improvement in wear resistance was dependent on size and configuration of the bristles. Compressing the bristles between brushings retains the non-matted shape of the bristles and reduces their deterioration.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1995

Clinical evaluation of the plaque removal efficacy of three toothbrushes.

A single-blind, randomized triple crossover study was conducted to compare the plaque removal effectiveness of three toothbrushes: Sunstar Do New Type, Reach Compact Head, and New Dental-H. Thirty-three female students were recruited from a dental school and a dental hygiene school. All subjects brushed with a control toothbrush for the first week and with each one of the three test toothbrushes in each subsequent one-week period. Plaque removal efficacy was determined by subtracting the plaque score for the test toothbrush from that of the control toothbrush. The Sunstar Do New Type toothbrush had a significantly (p<0.05) higher plaque removal efficacy than the other two toothbrushes. The differences were prominent on the distal line angle of the second molars. Differences in plaque removal efficacy between the Reach Compact Head and the New Dental-H toothbrushes were not statistically significant (p<0.05) in this study.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Trends in toothbrushing frequency among Finnish adolescents between 1977 and 1995.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse trends in development of the toothbrushing frequency of Finnish adolescents and the socio-economic factors associated with these trends between 1977 and 1995. DESIGN: The data were collected as part of a nation-wide research programme, the Adolescent Health and Lifestyle Survey, which started in 1977. Since then a 12-page questionnaire has been sent every other year. Dental health behaviour was studied from the outset. SUBJECTS: The sample represented 12-, 14-, 16- and 18-year-old children and adolescents in Finland. The sample size varied between 3,205-10,626, making a total of 66,687 participants. OUTCOME MEASURES: The recommended toothbrushing frequency, twice-a-day, was studied. The socio-economic factors included age, gender, self-assessed school performance, level of education, socio-economic status of the householder, and socio-economic category of the residential area. RESULTS: Among boys, daily toothbrushing increased from 1977 to 1995, but among girls it remained stable. Among boys, the prevalence of twice-a-day toothbrushing frequency varied from 13 per cent to 25 per cent between the ages of 12 and 18 years, and among girls from 32 per cent to 60 per cent, respectively. Among 12- to 14-year-old boys, the socio-economic differences almost disappeared. There were no changes among 12- to 14-year-old girls but there was an unexpected declining trend in toothbrushing among 16- to 18-year-old girls. Apparently further improvement in the toothbrushing frequency of girls had stopped. CONCLUSIONS: Although there was a clear trend towards improvement of toothbrushing frequency among boys, their toothbrushing frequency still lagged far behind that of girls.

Achievement↗

PubMed1996

A thirty-day evaluation of the Rowenta Dentiphant powered toothbrush in children for safety and efficacy.

A thirty-day clinical trial was undertaken with second grade school children to assess the safety and efficacy of a new battery-powered toothbrush (Rowenta Dentiphant) compared to the manual Oral-B 20 toothbrush. The children from four class rooms were individually and randomly assigned to use either product for the thirty days. The children reported to school having not brushed the morning of each assessment at baseline, 15 days and 30 days. Following the gingivitis assessment and given a pre-brushing plaque assessment, the children were instructed on the use of the toothbrush as they then brushed their teeth for a timed 1 minute out of sight of the examiners. The children were then reassessed for plaque removal. The results demonstrated that the children using the Rowenta powered toothbrush became used to the brush and improved their cleaning efficiency during the study. By week two, the buccal plaque scores for the Rowenta brush were significantly lower (p < 0.05) compared to the Oral-B 20 group. By week four the Rowenta subjects had significantly lower buccal and lingual plaque scores after brushing, while the Oral-B 20 subjects had significantly lower buccal scores after toothbrushing, but no significant difference was found after brushing on lingual surfaces for plaque removal. On total plaque area scores, the Rowenta group was significantly lower (p < 0.01) than the Oral-B 20 group at both two and four weeks. The Rowenta group had a 10% reduction in plaque area after brushing comparing baseline to four weeks. The Oral-B group demonstrated no percentage difference in after brushing plaque scores from baseline to four weeks. On gingivitis, the Rowenta group had significantly lower buccal and lingual mean scores compared to the Oral-B 20 group at week two, and lingual mean scores compared to the Oral-B 20 group at week four. The Rowenta group demonstrated a 27% decrease in lingual gingivitis scores compared to baseline, while the Oral-B group had an 11% decrease in lingual gingivitis scores from baseline to four weeks. Total gingivitis scores for the Rowenta group were significantly lower (p < 0.01-0.001) at both weeks two and four compared to the Oral-B 20 group, with percentage declines from baseline to four weeks being 22% and 12%, respectively. The Rowenta Dentiphant toothbrush was found to be safe to use. On total plaque and gingivitis reduction, the Rowenta Dentiphant toothbrush was found to be significantly superior to the Oral-B 20 manual toothbrush by two weeks of use and this continued to the conclusion of the study.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1997

Plaque removal efficacy of a newly developed powered toothbrush in the primary dentition of pre-school children.

A cross-over, single-blind clinical study was performed to compare a powered and a manual toothbrush for their ability to remove plaque from the teeth of pre-school children. Seventy-three randomly selected 4- to 6-year-old children from two kindergarten classes in Erfurt, Germany participated in the study. A new powered children's toothbrush (Rowenta) and a currently marketed manual children's toothbrush (Elmex) were used for an assessment period of two weeks each. Then the groups were crossed over to use the alternate toothbrush for another two weeks. Whole mouth, gingival margin and interproximal plaque area levels were determined using the Rustogi et al. plaque index. Statistical analysis of the data showed significantly effective (p < 0.05) plaque removal with both toothbrushes, immediately after toothbrushing and at one and two weeks, compared to the respective baseline scores. The statistical analysis also demonstrated that the powered toothbrush was significantly (p < 0.05) better on percent plaque reduction on all tooth areas compared to the manual toothbrush, except at two weeks with the interproximal assessment.

Child↗

PubMed2000

Plaque removal by worn toothbrush.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Assessment of the influence of toothbrush wear on plaque (PI) and gingival (GI) indexes. METHOD: 20 university students were recruited. PI and GI were recorded at the starting point (T0). Each subject received a toothbrush and toothpaste. 5 measurements of toothbrush were recorded to establish the initial size. The subjects were instructed to brush 3 x a day and to refrain from using other plaque removal aids. After 1 month (T1), the subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups: group no. 1 substituted the toothbrush at each monthly visit; group no. 2 brushed only with the toothbrush provided at T0. Recalls were scheduled after 1 (T1), 2 (T2) and 3 months (T3). PI, GI and an index of wear (WI) were calculated using 5 measurements of the toothbrush head and were recorded at recalls. RESULTS: From T0 to T3, a significant increase of PI was found within both groups. Non-significant differences, but very close to the significant level (p= 0.063), in group no. 1 and significant differences in group no. 2 of GI were found. No significant differences of PI and GI were found between groups. Increase of the WI was registered from T0 to T3 (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Each individual is capable of maintaining low PI, even if using a toothbrush that shows evidence of wear.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Dentine hypersensitivity--the effect of toothbrushing and dietary compounds on dentine in vitro: an SEM study.

Dentine hypersensitivity occurs when dentinal tubules are open on the dentine surface and patent to a vital pulp. There has been limited interest in the aetiology of dentine hypersensitivity. In particular, little is known about agents that remove the dentine smear layer to expose tubules. Toothbrushing certainly may expose dentine, but whether a toothbrush per se has the effect of opening tubules has not been established. The aim of this study in vitro was to determine whether a toothbrush could remove or create a smear layer. In addition, the combined effects of toothbrushing with dietary fluids on dentine was assessed. Toothbrushing was observed, by scanning electron microscopy, both to remove and to recreate a smear layer on dentine specimens. However, the processes took a considerable time, and under conditions of normal toothbrushing it is unlikely that the latter plays a direct aetiological role in opening tubules. Indeed, together with toothpaste it is more likely that brushing has a therapeutic action by mechanically forming a smear layer. Conversely, and importantly, toothbrushing in the presence of dietary acids enhanced smear layer removal. This finding raises the question of whether the dental profession should be advising that teeth be brushed before meals rather than after, as is often the case.

Acid Etching, Dental↗