Efficacy of the Finger Toothbrush as an Alternative Oral Hygiene Method: A Non-randomized Controlled Study

Area of Science:

• Oral hygiene
• Periodontal disease prevention
• Caries prevention

Background:

• Mechanical plaque removal is key for preventing periodontal diseases and caries.
• Rural and underprivileged populations often use traditional finger-based teeth cleaning methods.
• Alternative oral hygiene tools are needed for these populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the plaque removal efficacy of a finger toothbrush.
• To compare the finger toothbrush to finger-based cleaning and a manual toothbrush.
• To evaluate an alternative oral hygiene tool for specific populations.

Main Methods:

• A non-randomized controlled trial with 90 participants assigned to three groups: finger toothbrush, finger cleaning, and manual toothbrush.
• Plaque index scores were measured on Day 1 and Day 15 using the Silness and Loe plaque index.
• Statistical analysis included Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and Wilcoxon's signed rank test (p < 0.05 significance).

Main Results:

• All inter- and intra-group comparisons were statistically significant (p < 0.05).
• The finger toothbrush group showed a significant plaque reduction (median plaque index: 0.62) compared to the finger cleaning group (median plaque index: 1.70).
• The manual toothbrush group demonstrated the most significant plaque reduction (median plaque index: 0.29).

Conclusions:

• The finger toothbrush is more effective than finger cleaning for plaque reduction.
• It serves as a valuable transitional tool for improving oral hygiene in specific populations.
• This tool bridges the gap between traditional and modern oral hygiene practices.