The safety and efficacy of gingival massage with an electric interdental cleaning device

The safety and efficacy of an interdental cleaning device (Braun Oral-B Interclean--ID2) used with a Flexi-Tip gingival massage attachment were evaluated in an investigator-blind comparison with manual floss. Over a 4-week period, 59 healthy volunteers were studied with respect to whole-mouth and interproximal plaque accumulation, gingival index and gingival bleeding. Eligible subjects were randomly assigned to one of the two experimental groups following a complete dental examination on Day 1. Subjects each underwent a dental prophylaxis before receiving flossing or massaging instructions. Plaque, gingivitis and gingival bleeding index scores were evaluated at Day 1 and Week 4. There was a significant reduction from baseline in all three parameters (whole-mouth and interproximal) in each of the groups, over the 4-week period. Reductions for whole-mouth and interproximal plaque scores were 20.3% and 17.0%, respectively in the ID2 group, compared with 16.2% and 13.8%, respectively in the manual floss group. Reductions for gingivitis were 13.0% and 14.1% in the ID2 group, compared with 14.0% and 16.2% in the manual floss group, and for gingival bleeding 52.2% and 53.6% in the ID2 group, compared with 51.7% and 55.6% in the manual floss group, respectively. Differences between treatment groups for each study parameter were not statistically significant. There was no significant soft tissue pathology noted in either study group. The results demonstrated that the manual floss and the interdental cleaning device, when used with the gingival massage attachment, were equally effective.