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Plaque Removal and Gingival Bleeding Using Biodegradable Toothbrushes: Salvadora persica, Bamboo, and Nylon: A
Hytham N Fageeh1, Manawar A Mansoor2, Hammam I Fageeh1
1Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
Summary
Eco-friendly miswak and bamboo toothbrushes effectively remove plaque and reduce bleeding, similar to conventional plastic toothbrushes. These natural options also show significantly lower bacterial contamination.
Area of Science:
- Oral hygiene
- Microbiology
- Materials science
Background:
- Limited data exists comparing eco-friendly oral care items to traditional plastic ones.
- This study addresses the need for comparative data on biodegradable toothbrushes.
- Focuses on plaque removal, bleeding reduction, and bacterial contamination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare plaque removal efficacy and bacterial contamination.
- Evaluate biodegradable miswak (S. persica) and bamboo toothbrushes against conventional ones.
- Assess oral health outcomes over an 8-week period.
Main Methods:
- Single-blinded, parallel randomized observational study with 30 participants (18-35 years).
- Three groups: miswak brush, bamboo brush, and conventional toothbrush (10 participants each).
- Measured plaque and bleeding indices (Loe and Sillness, Ainamo and Bay) at baseline, 4, and 8 weeks; evaluated bristle microbial contamination.
Main Results:
- All groups showed reduced plaque scores after 8 weeks.
- Significant reduction in bleeding index observed across all groups, with miswak (16.68%), bamboo (21.04%), and conventional (22.7%) brushes.
- Conventional toothbrushes exhibited substantially higher microbial contamination compared to bamboo and miswak brushes (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Miswak natural toothbrushes and bamboo toothbrushes demonstrate comparable efficacy to conventional plastic toothbrushes.
- Biodegradable options offer a viable alternative for oral hygiene.
- Further research into the long-term efficacy and environmental impact is warranted.
