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Effect of toothbrush wear on plaque control
C G Daly1, C C Chapple, A C Cameron
1Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sydney, Australia.
Journal of Clinical Periodontology
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Toothbrush wear did not impact plaque control in a 9-week study. Despite toothbrush wear, plaque accumulation decreased, suggesting other factors like motivation influenced results.
Area of Science:
- Oral hygiene
- Dental research
Background:
- Toothbrush wear is a common phenomenon.
- The impact of toothbrush wear on plaque control efficacy is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of progressive toothbrush wear on plaque control.
- To determine if toothbrush wear influences the ability to remove plaque effectively over time.
Main Methods:
- 20 subjects used a new toothbrush for 9 weeks.
- Plaque was professionally removed at baseline, week 3, and week 6.
- Plaque accumulation was assessed over three 3-week periods.
- Toothbrush wear was quantified by measuring changes in brushing surface area using computer analysis.
Main Results:
- Plaque scores significantly decreased over the 9-week study period (p < 0.001).
- No significant difference in plaque control was observed between subjects with high and low toothbrush wear.
- Progressive toothbrush wear did not correlate with reduced plaque control efficacy.
Conclusions:
- Toothbrush wear status may not be critical for effective plaque control.
- Motivational effects from study participation and examinations likely contributed to improved plaque scores.
- Further research is needed to explore factors influencing plaque control beyond toothbrush condition.