Laboratory plaque reduction by three floss products

A new laboratory method was developed to compare GUM Expanding floss, Reach Mint Waxed and Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Deep Clean for their ability to reduce artificial plaque.

The floss product to be evaluated was affixed to the testing device and placed around interproximal surfaces of plaque-covered posterior-shaped teeth extending to a 60° angle. The testing apparatus was set to move in a vertical direction to the tooth apex at two strokes per second with a 5 mm stroke for 15 seconds. The plaque substrate was then evaluated for maximum depth of the plaque removed. Results for all comparisons were statistically analyzed using the post hoc Tukey test for multiple pairwise comparisons and t-tests, assuming unequal variance, were used to compare mean depth of plaque removed for the same product under differing flossing pressures.

The mean plaque depth removed by GUM Expanding floss was greater than the mean plaque removed by the Reach Mint Waxed at 50 g (P< 0.05) and at 150 g (P< 0.001). The mean plaque depth removed by GUM Expanding floss was also greater than the Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Deep Clean mean plaque depth removal at both 50 g and 150 g (P< 0.001). Reach Mint Waxed floss plaque removal efficacy was superior to the Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Deep Clean at 50 and 150 g (P< 0.001 for each). Both the GUM Expanding floss and Reach Mint Waxed floss removed more plaque at 150 g than at 50 g (P< 0.001 for GUM Expanding and P< 0.01 for Reach Mint Waxed).

Dental plaque will result in the development of caries, gingivitis and periodontal disease if not removed regularly. The superior efficacy of GUM Expanding floss in decreasing plaque depth, compared to two commercially available floss products that have demonstrated clinical efficacy in decreasing plaque and gingivitis, indicate that this product also may be effective for the treatment and reduction of plaque and related diseases.