The effectiveness of a disposable tooth cleansing device on plaque

A disposable polyester foam sponge on a stick, impregnated with a non-foaming dentifrice, has been widely dispensed to hospitalized and nursing home patients for intraoral cleansing and refreshing. Since no information was found relative to tooth cleansing capabilities, we have evaluated its effectiveness in the removal of accumulated plaque and also in prevention of plaque accumulation. Removal of 72 hours of accumulated plaque was assessed in a cross-over design study comparing the device with a commercially-available toothbrush by two different groups of 13 and 29 adult, healthy subjects who used each instrument for 1 and 3 minutes respectively. No significant differences were found between mean scores assessed by Turesky's modification of the Quigley-Hein plaque index by either group using either instrument at either time period (P > 0.05). Prevention of plaque accumulation was assessed in a third group of 25 subjects who used each instrument an average of 3 times a day for 1 week in a cross-over study. While the toothbrush was found significantly more effective in retarding the accumulation of plaque from a plaque-free baseline on both facial and lingual surfaces (P < 0.02), the tooth cleansing device still retained plaque-preventive capabilities by maintaining plaque formation below 2 mm at the cervical margin of the tooth. Results of this study indicate the tooth cleansing device may be a viable alternative to conventional toothbrushes.