Effects of toothbrushes with tapered and cross angled soft bristle design on dental plaque and gingival inflammation: a randomized and controlled clinical trial

A selection of abstracts of clinically relevant papers from other journals. Abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by Dr Trevor Watts.

Abstract

These brushes were more effective.

Main

Ren Y-F, Cacciato R et al. J Dent 2007; 35: 614–622

Toothbrush design has played a part in improving plaque control. In this study, 3 types were compared without giving patients any instruction. The designs were: a standard ADA toothbrush (ST), a brush with 6 rows of taper-ended bristles and 4 rows of cross-angled round-ended bristles (TCB), and a similar brush with all bristles tapered (TB). The trial started with 90 subjects randomised to the 3 designs, and 84 completed it. At baseline, groups did not differ. After a 1 wk washout period with a different brush, subjects abstained from brushing for 12 hrs, and then used the prescribed brush for 30 days.

The trial was completed by 19 subjects using ST, and 17 each using TCB and TB. In these respective groups, mean plaque scores were 2.4, 2.5 and 2.4 at baseline, and 2.4, 2.2 and 2.1 at day 30 (P = 0.02). Respective gingival index scores were: 1.3, 1.3 and 1.2, and 1.2, 1.1 and 1.1 (P = 0.02). The authors conclude that TCB and TB are a useful advance in design.