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Abstract Background Oral health care behaviors during pregnancy affects maternal and child health outcomes. This scoping review sought to map the existing literature on the oral healthcare behaviors of pregnant women in Nigeria. Methods PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, EBSCOHOST, Sabinet, African Index Medicus, and Scopus data based were searched in August 2023. Articles with reports on the oral health behavior of pregnant women in Nigeria, published in English in peer review were included in the review. Articles whose full lengths could not be accessed, and commentaries on studies, and letters to the editor were also excluded. Data on authors and year of publication of the study, study location, study objective, study design, methodological approach for data collection, and study outcomes were extracted and descriptively synthesized. Results The search yielded a total of 595 articles of which 573 were unique. Only 21 articles were left after titles and abstracts screening and only 18 articles met the eligibility criteria. The proportion of pregnant women had utilized dental services ranged from 4 to 62.9%, the use of toothbrush and toothpaste ranged from 59.6 to 99.3%, twice daily tooth brushing ranged from 5.2 to 66.9%, and the use of toothbrush among pregnant women in the studies varies from 70.9 to 100%. Chewing stick was used by 0.1–27.7% of study participants. Dental problems such as caries, pain, swollen gums, and excessive salivation were reasons for seeking dental care. We identified individual, structural, and behavioral factors, including myths as barriers for dental service utilization. Conclusion This scoping review shows that dental service utilization by pregnant women in Nigeria is poor and mainly due to curative than preventive needs. Oral health behaviours also need to be improved through tailored oral health education accessible to pregnant women in Nigeria.

One of the most common children's dental health problems is dental caries. Childhood is the beginning of behavior formation, therefore it is hoped that parents can educate their children to behave correctly in maintaining healthy teeth and mouth.This research used descriptive survey research methods. The design of this research is cross sectional. The research was conducted at MIS Cempaka Putih and MIS Sungai Baru, South Kalimantan. The population in this study was all students in grades 4-6 at MIS Cempaka Putih and MIS Sungai Baru, there are 41 people. The sampling technique in this research used the total sampling method. The variables in this study are children's dental health behavior and the DMF-T index. The data that has been collected will be processed through editing, coding, tabulation and descriptive data analysis. This research was conducted at MIS Cempaka Putih and MIS Sungai Baru Banjarmasin in February 2022. Respondents were 10-12 years old. The dental health behavior of children in the good category was 14 people (34.15%), 15 people (36.58%), and 12 people less (29.27%). DMF-T index in the very high category was 3 people (7.32%), high was 4 people (9.76%), medium was 18 people (43.90%), low was 13 people (31.70%), and very low 3 people (7.32%). Based on the research results, it can be concluded that the dental health behavior of children in grades 4-6 at MIS Cempaka Putih and MIS Sungai Baru is mostly adequate for 15 people (36.58%). The class 4-6 DMF-T index in MIS Cempaka Putih and Sungai Baru has an average value of 3.5, including the medium category.

Background: Effective plaque control is essential for improved oral health. Advancements in mechanical plaque removal using toothbrushes still continue. One such sophisticated intervention is the app-based toothbrush, a new innovative technology that helps to track the child’s brushing habits. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the plaque removal efficacy of three different toothbrushes in children aged 6–8 years. Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted among primary school children with decayed missing filled teeth (dmft) score of ≤2. Baseline plaque score was collected using Turesky modification of the Quigley and Hein Index 1 week after oral prophylaxis. Children were randomly divided into three groups. Group I received conventional toothbrush (n = 25), group II received powered toothbrush (n = 25), and group III received app-based toothbrush (n = 25). Post-intervention plaque score, toothbrush wear and bite mark scores were done at the 15th, 30th, 45th and 90th day. Participant’s opinion on their toothbrushes was evaluated using a questionnaire. Results and Conclusion: App-based toothbrush showed maximum plaque reduction followed by powered and conventional toothbrush. Significant reduction in plaque score was seen at 30th-, 45th- and 90th-day follow-up in group II (

Background: Oral health care behaviors during pregnancy affects maternal and child health outcomes. This scoping review sought to map the existing literature on the oral healthcare behaviors of pregnant women in Nigeria. Methods: PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, EBSCOHOST, Sabinet, African Index Medicus, and Scopus data based were searched in August 2023. Articles with reports on the oral health behavior of pregnant women in Nigeria, published in English in peer review were included in the review. Articles whose full lengths could not be accessed, and commentaries on studies, and letters to the editor were also excluded. Data on authors and year of publication of the study, study location, study objective, study design, methodological approach for data collection, and study outcomes were extracted and descriptively synthesized. Results: The search yielded a total of 595 articles of which 573 were unique. Only 21 articles were left after titles and abstracts screening and only 18 articles met the eligibility criteria. The proportion of pregnant women had utilized dental services ranged from 4 to 62.9%, the use of toothbrush and toothpaste ranged from 59.6 to 99.3%, twice daily tooth brushing ranged from 5.2 to 66.9%, and the use of toothbrush among pregnant women in the studies varies from 70.9 to 100%. Chewing stick was used by 0.1–27.7% of study participants. Dental problems such as caries, pain, swollen gums, and excessive salivation were reasons for seeking dental care. We identified individual, structural, and behavioral factors, including myths as barriers for dental service utilization. Conclusion: This scoping review shows that dental service utilization by pregnant women in Nigeria is poor and mainly due to curative than preventive needs. Oral health behaviours also need to be improved through tailored oral health education accessible to pregnant women in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the emotional engagement of children aged 3–12 with toothbrush color design from a psychological perspective, focusing on three distinct age groups: 3–5 years, 6–8 years, and 9–12 years. While previous research has primarily concentrated on the physical attributes of toothbrushes, this study employs a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews and observations, to analyze children's emotional responses and preferences for various toothbrush designs across different age groups. The findings reveal significant age-related differences in emotional engagement; younger children tend to prefer bright colors and playful shapes, whereas older children prioritize functionality. Additionally tactile experience and interactivity are found to play crucial roles in enhancing children's enjoyment and motivation for toothbrushing. Furthermore, the study explores the relationship between toothbrush design and children's oral health behavior, proposing an emotionally engaging toothbrush design framework that considers children's psychological needs across different age groups. This framework offers practical guidelines for designers to create toothbrushes that enhance children's brushing experience and contribute to their oral health. The study highlights the importance of emotional engagement in designing for children and offers new insights into creating user-centered products that cater to children's developmental needs, with implications for promoting children's oral health through emotionally engaging design.

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of toothbrush bristle stiffness and brushing force on the cleaning efficacy in vitro. Materials and Methods: Eighty bovine dentin samples were allocated to eight groups (n=10). Two custom-made toothbrushes of different bristle stiffness (soft and medium) were tested at four different brushing forces (1, 2, 3 and 4 N). Dentin samples were stained in black tea and brushed (60 strokes/min) for a total of 25 min in a brushing machine with an abrasive solution (RDA 67). Photographs were taken after 2 and 25 min of brushing time. Cleaning efficacy was measured planimetrically. Results: After 2 min of brushing, the soft-bristle toothbrush did not cause statistically significantly different cleaning efficacy at different brushing forces, while the medium-bristle toothbrush cleaned statistically significantly less efficaceously only at 1 N. Comparing the two different toothbrushes, higher cleaning efficacy was observed only at 1 N for the soft-bristle brush. At 25 min brushing time, the soft-bristle cleaned statistically significantly better at 4 N compared to 1 N and 2 N and at 3 N compared to 1 N. Using the medium-bristle, cleaning efficacy increased with increasing brushing force. After 25 min of brushing, no statistically significant difference was observed between the two different toothbrushes. Conclusion: Irrespective the brushing force, the use of a soft or medium toothbrush results in comparable cleaning efficacy. At 2 min brushing time, increasing the brushing force does not increase the cleaning efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important for patients to understand that these conditions can be treated, but the success of treatment greatly depends on their level of oral hygiene. Selecting the appropriate toothbrush and mastering the correct brushing technique to effectively remove dental plaque while avoiding any potential damage to the gums. In addition to toothbrushes, there are other devices available for comprehensive dental cleaning, such as floss, interdental sticks, interdental brushes, and oral irrigators. Currently, self-care recommendations for dental implants are primarily based on existing knowledge regarding natural teeth cleaning. Patient education on oral hygiene is an important component of their overall treatment. Maintaining a regular oral hygiene routine is essential for taking care of our mouths, ensuring healthy teeth, and achieving fresh breath. In conclusion, biofilm disruption mechanical methods integrated is indispensable for comprehensive oral healthcare.

This study aims to investigate whether toothbrushes with fluoride-infused bristles have any (re)mineralisation effects on bovine enamel. Bovine incisors (N = 160) were extracted, and the buccal side of the crown was cut into dimensions of ~5 mm × 5 mm with a low-speed saw. These specimens were randomly allocated into four groups: half (80 teeth) were stored in demineralising solution (DM), and the other half were stored in deionised water (DW) for 96 h. Then, they were brushed with a force of 2.0 ± 0.1 N for five min with a manual toothbrush with either fluoride-infused (TF) or regular (TR) bristles. Microhardness (Vickers), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to investigate the surfaces of the bovine enamel specimens before and after brushing. Two-way ANOVA was used to analyse the hardness data, and the pairwise comparison method was used to analyse the Ca/P ratio, for each group at α = 0.05. The results show that brushing with either of these toothbrushes increased the Vickers microhardness on DM and DW enamel (p < 0.001), whereas hydroxyapatite was revealed in all groups by XRD. The DM samples showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the Ca/P ratios after brushing with TR and TF. Conversely, under DW conditions, these ratios decreased significantly after brushing. In terms of the F atomic%, TF increased significantly. SEM revealed mineral deposition in the DM groups after toothbrushing. To conclude, toothbrushing effectively induces the microhardness of sound and demineralised enamel, while fluoride-infused bristles might be able to retain fluoride on the enamel surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gingival, periodontal diseases and dental caries are the most prevalent diseases of the oral cavity. Plaque is the main cause of these dental diseases. Plaque control is of prime importance for the maintenance of oral and dental health. The toothbrush is used very commonly for plaque control. A variety of toothbrushes are available, which are used for plaque removal. Toothbrushes cause abrasion and are significant in the development of tooth wear. This study aimed to compare the abrasion caused by a commercially available nylon bristle toothbrush to a biobased carbon-based bristle toothbrush. Materials and Methods: Acrylic plates were used to assess the abrasion caused by the nylon bristles and biobased carbon bristles. The surface roughness (Ra) was evaluated on a device, and the values were compared to each other. Results: Brushing with the biobased carbon bristle toothbrush was less abrasive than when nylon bristles were used. The nylon bristles showed a higher Ra value as compared to biobased carbon bristles. Conclusion: The biobased carbon bristles are less abrasive, but studies are required to compare the plaque removal capacity of such biobased carbon bristle toothbrushes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has demonstrated that systematic preoperative oral hygiene reduces nosocomial infections after elective thoracic surgery. However, the impact of preoperative oral hygiene on patients undergoing urologic procedures is unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of systematic preoperative oral hygiene on prescriptions with antibiotics following cystectomy or urethroplasty. A quasi‐experimental study design included all patients undergoing elective radical cystectomy or urethroplasty from 1 January 2018 to 31 May 2021. Patients undergoing cystectomy or urethroplasty were grouped into a prospective intervention group and a retrospective control group. Patients in the intervention group were admitted from 1 January 2020 to 31 May 2021, and were recommended to brush their teeth and rinse their mouths with chlorhexidine gluconate 0.12% four times a day starting 2 days before surgery and continuing until the morning of the operation. Patients admitted from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2019 received no oral hygiene recommendations and were used as a retrospective control group. Data on oral hygiene performance were self‐reported and collected at admission and data on prescription of antibiotics were collected through the patients' records. The relative risk was calculated to report the effect of the intervention. In total, 39 patients with cystectomy were in the intervention group, whereas 31 were in the control group. For patients having urethroplasty, 27 were in the intervention group and 98 were in the control group. The effect of oral hygiene on the prescription of antibiotics for patients who completely adhered to the oral hygiene recommendations showed a relative risk of 0.554 (95% CI 0.333–0.921) p = 0.02 for cystectomy and 0.825 (95% 0.308–2.209) p = 0.70 for urethroplasty. This study showed a statistically significant reduction in the prescription of antibiotics following oral hygiene recommendations for patients undergoing cystectomy. However, no statistically significant effect was demonstrated for patients undergoing urethroplasty. Despite this result, it seems important to be aware of oral hygiene in patients undergoing surgery to potentially reduce the number of infections and the use of antibiotics because of the antimicrobial resistance that the healthcare system faces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message This report describes a case of an electric toothbrush head being retained between the floor of the mouth and the submandibular gland following a fall. Computed tomography imaging is recommended in cases of oral cavity damage to assess tissue damage and ascertain the position of the foreign body concerning blood vessels.

Saadaq Adan Hussein,1 Abdirahman Aden Hussein,2 Ahmed Mohamed Nur,3 Ayan Nor Ali,4 Yahye Garad Mohamed,4 Abdul Jalil Abdullahi Ali3 1Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Benadir University, Mogadishu, Somalia; 2Department Public Health, Ministry of Livestock, Forestry & Range, Mogadishu, Somalia; 3Department of M&E Statistic, Benadir University, Mogadishu, Somalia; 4Department Radiology, Mogadishu Somali Türkiye Training and Research Hospital, Mogadishu, SomaliaCorrespondence: Saadaq Adan Hussein, Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Benadir University, Bundada Street, Wabari District, Mogadishu, Somalia, Tel +252612223224, Email sadakadamh@gmail.comBackground: Oral health is crucial for overall well-being and systemic health and Humans are exposed to several bacteria after birth and will causes systemic illnesses like septicemia, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and renal issues. This study aimed to evaluate undergraduate students’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding toothbrush contamination and disinfection.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with undergraduates from seven selected universities, including public and private universities. A closed-ended questionnaire containing 24 items was distributed to A total of 490 undergraduate students.Results: The study showed that (28.6%, n=140) had knowledge about toothbrush cleaning and disinfection. A total of (350, n=71.4%) needed to gain knowledge about toothbrush cleaning and disinfection. Fifty-two percent of the students feel that bacteria are the primary mode of toothbrush contamination. Many of the students had different ways of disinfecting toothbrushes, including, boiling a small pot of normal water (51.4%, n=252), chemical agent (31.8%, n=156), ultraviolet sanitizer (0.2%, n=4), and microwave radiation (0.2%, n=1) does not know (16.1%, n=79). Most students (76.9%, n=377) felt that toothbrush disinfection was necessary.Conclusion: Fewer students have sufficient knowledge about toothbrush contamination and practice disinfection methods, whereas most students need to be made aware of the contamination of toothbrushes and the use of disinfectant methods.Keywords: knowledge, practice, toothbrush, infection, contamination

Introduction: Gingival, periodontal diseases and dental caries are the most prevalent diseases of the oral cavity. Plaque is the main cause of these dental diseases. Plaque control is of prime importance for the maintenance of oral and dental health. The toothbrush is used very commonly for plaque control. A variety of toothbrushes are available, which are used for plaque removal. Toothbrushes cause abrasion and are significant in the development of tooth wear. This study aimed to compare the abrasion caused by a commercially available nylon bristle toothbrush to a biobased carbon-based bristle toothbrush. Materials and Methods: Acrylic plates were used to assess the abrasion caused by the nylon bristles and biobased carbon bristles. The surface roughness (Ra) was evaluated on a device, and the values were compared to each other. Results: Brushing with the biobased carbon bristle toothbrush was less abrasive than when nylon bristles were used. The nylon bristles showed a higher Ra value as compared to biobased carbon bristles. Conclusion: The biobased carbon bristles are less abrasive, but studies are required to compare the plaque removal capacity of such biobased carbon bristle toothbrushes.

Key Clinical Message: This report describes a case of an electric toothbrush head being retained between the floor of the mouth and the submandibular gland following a fall. Computed tomography imaging is recommended in cases of oral cavity damage to assess tissue damage and ascertain the position of the foreign body concerning blood vessels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objectives For people, it is challenging to be conscious of the appropriate toothbrushing time to maintain good oral health in daily life. The aim of this study was to preliminarily examine the utility of an application (app) that combines a toothbrushing timer and information on toothbrushes. Materials and Methods We developed the “Toothbrushing Timer with Information on Toothbrushes” app to help users ensure appropriate toothbrushing time and learn about the beneficial characteristics of toothbrushes. A total of 18 participants were registered for the study. At baseline (T0) and after 1 month (T1) of app usage, study participants answered a digital questionnaire that comprised three questions on oral health practice, self‐efficacy in oral hygiene, and quality of life related to oral health (Oral Health Impact Profile‐14 [OHIP‐14]). Results Five participants were excluded from the analysis as they did not answer the digital questionnaire. Finally, 13 participants completed the survey with a follow‐up of 1 month. The 13 participants were grouped into health professionals (n = 8) and non‐health professionals (n = 5). The total scores for oral health practice and self‐efficacy related to oral hygiene increased after a month of app usage in health professional and non‐health professional groups. However, there were no significant differences between T0 and T1 in either group. The total score of OHIP‐14 was lower at T1 than at T0 in both groups. Therefore, participants showed better oral health practice, self‐efficacy in oral hygiene, and quality of life related to oral health at T1 compared with that at T0. Conclusions Our app showed positive results for the users and is useful in maintaining and promoting oral health awareness and practice. However, our pilot study lacks sufficient power and did not yield significant differences. Therefore, high‐quality clinical trials with larger sample sizes are warranted for further improvement and evaluation.

Objectives: The present systematic review was conducted to give an overview of toothbrush contamination among the general population and the factors affecting toothbrush contamination with an evidence‐based approach. Data/Sources: Medline (Pub Med), CINAHL Plus, Cochrane Library and Dentistry and Oral Health Sciences Source were searched for the results after applying the search strategy from January 2012 to May 2022, following inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data were collected using a self‐made data collection form on study characteristics, population attributes and the main features, including the study's outcomes. The methodological quality of the included studies was independently evaluated based on the Joanna Briggs Institute's (JBI) critical appraisal checklist for cross‐sectional studies and the Risk of Biasness Tool‐1 (Rob‐1) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). A descriptive analysis of the included studies was done using SWiM guidelines. The impact of charcoal and non‐charcoal brushes on toothbrush disinfection was quantitatively analysed using a forest plot. Study Selection: Of the 687 studies screened by title and abstract, 27 articles were selected for full‐text evaluation using the EndNote reference program (Ver. X9.2). From these, 15 qualified and were included in the systematic review. Among the selected studies, eight were RCTs, six were cross‐sectional studies, and the remaining one was an in vitro experimental study. Conclusions: The toothbrush becomes contaminated even after its first usage, and the contamination level rises with continued use. There are a number of factors that lead to the contamination of brushes, such as increased humidity brought on by a plastic cover or a toilet setting. Charcoal brushes show significant efficacy as compared to regular bristles in reducing toothbrush contamination; however, more RCTs are needed to further assess its efficacy. Nevertheless, rinsing with chlorhexidine mouthwash after daily brushing shows favourable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: For people, it is challenging to be conscious of the appropriate toothbrushing time to maintain good oral health in daily life. The aim of this study was to preliminarily examine the utility of an application (app) that combines a toothbrushing timer and information on toothbrushes. Materials and Methods: We developed the "Toothbrushing Timer with Information on Toothbrushes" app to help users ensure appropriate toothbrushing time and learn about the beneficial characteristics of toothbrushes. A total of 18 participants were registered for the study. At baseline (T0) and after 1 month (T1) of app usage, study participants answered a digital questionnaire that comprised three questions on oral health practice, self‐efficacy in oral hygiene, and quality of life related to oral health (Oral Health Impact Profile‐14 [OHIP‐14]). Results: Five participants were excluded from the analysis as they did not answer the digital questionnaire. Finally, 13 participants completed the survey with a follow‐up of 1 month. The 13 participants were grouped into health professionals (n = 8) and non‐health professionals (n = 5). The total scores for oral health practice and self‐efficacy related to oral hygiene increased after a month of app usage in health professional and non‐health professional groups. However, there were no significant differences between T0 and T1 in either group. The total score of OHIP‐14 was lower at T1 than at T0 in both groups. Therefore, participants showed better oral health practice, self‐efficacy in oral hygiene, and quality of life related to oral health at T1 compared with that at T0. Conclusions: Our app showed positive results for the users and is useful in maintaining and promoting oral health awareness and practice. However, our pilot study lacks sufficient power and did not yield significant differences. Therefore, high‐quality clinical trials with larger sample sizes are warranted for further improvement and evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objectives The use of a toothbrush with radio frequency (RF) has shown to be of benefit regarding the reduction of plaque, calculus, and dental staining and improving teeth shade compared to conventional powered and manual toothbrushes. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of the RF toothbrush in the reduction of calculus accumulation and its effect on periodontal parameters as well as subject satisfaction as compared to an identical sham‐tooth brush. Materials and Methods Patients who are under a strict maintenance program were included. Patients were allocated to test (RF toothbrush) or control (sham) randomly and were examined at baseline, one and three months. Clinical photos were taken and a consequential calculus assessment via ImageJ software. Clinical assessment included the following: plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD), and recession (REC). Patient satisfaction was assessed via a questionnaire. Results Fifty‐eight patients (29 control, 29 test) were included. At baseline mean PPD, BOP, PI, REC, and calculus accumulation were similar between the groups. Mean buccal calculus was lower in the test group at one month 4.0% versus 6.7%, p

Abstract Objective Considering the rising prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), this study aimed to investigate the relationship between MetS and its components with oral and dental health in the adult population of the Azar cohort. Methods In this cross-sectional study oral health care behaviors, DMFT (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) index, and demographic data related to 15,006 patients (5112 in the MetS group and 9894 in the healthy group) of the Azar Cohort population aging from 35 to 70 were collected using appropriate questionnaires. The definition of MetS was based on the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria. Then, the risk factors of MetS related to oral health behaviors were determined by proper statistical analysis. Results The majority of MetS patients were female (66%) and uneducated (23%) (P

Effective brushing is the basis for maintaining the oral health of millions of people. Since the 1960s, brushing has been described in mathematical models, but mainly through empirical in vivo and in vitro studies. The development of new materials and devices dedicated to the removal of oral biofilm, with a view to environmental sustainability, has necessitated the development of modern brushing simulation models. With the aim of making the estimation of the cleaning performance of a toothbrush quantitative, and in order to set up a numerical tool for supporting the design and optimization of the brushing operations, the present study describes the development of a novel computational model. It is able to estimate the forces exchanged between the bristles of the toothbrush and the tooth surface through numerical simulations. The innovative modeling approach, based on discrete flexible multibody techniques, allowed a three-dimensional description of the behavior of the bristles, obtaining accurate results with reasonable computational time. The verification of the model is performed through a dedicated test bench performing controlled movements. The comparison between the numerical model and experimental results demonstrates the reliability of the approach. The proposed approach is also tested on a complex three-dimensional case of brushing in order to verify the behavior in complex scenarios. The proposed novel simulation model has proven to be able to simulate the brushing action of a toothbrush composed of thousands of bristles on a detailed and three-dimensional dental surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective oral care is a critical requirement to maintain a high quality of life. Most oral diseases are caused by plaque (oral biofilm), which is also correlated with systemic diseases. A common method to remove biofilm is brushing teeth with toothpaste. However, 3.5 billion people in the world have oral diseases, meaning that more efficient methods of removing biofilms are needed. We have developed a toothbrush that applies a bioelectric effect (BE) utilizing an electric force for biofilm removal. It demonstrated significantly higher biofilm removal efficiency than non-BE manual toothbrushes. Tests were performed in saline and toothpaste conditions using various pressures. Results showed that the BE toothbrush had a significantly higher biofilm removal efficiency in saline (0.5 N: 215.43 ± 89.92%, 2.5 N: 116.77 ± 47.02%) and in a toothpaste slurry (0.5 N: 104.96 ± 98.93%, 2.5 N: 96.23 ± 35.16%) than non-BE manual toothbrushes. Results also showed that BE toothbrushes were less dependent on toothpaste. This study suggests that the application of BE can be a new solution to plaque problems in oral care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This retrospective study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of using a toothbrush, which is commonly used in our daily life, for biofilm removal and infection control in the treatment of spinal infections occurring after spinal fusion surgery. Currently, a biofilm is thought to form on the surface of the metal inserted during spine fusion surgery. We aim to determine the differences in clinical outcomes between using and not using a toothbrush to remove biofilm while performing conventional drainage, curettage, and debridement. A total of 1081 patients who underwent anterior or posterior spinal fusion surgery between November 2018 and October 2022 were screened. The study included 60 patients who developed surgical site infection and underwent incision and drainage surgery either with a toothbrush (n = 20) or without a toothbrush (n = 40). Failure of infection control that requires revision surgery occurred in 2 patients (10%) in the Toothbrush group and in 14 patients (35%) in the No-Toothbrush group (p = 0.039). Thus, the rate of additional surgery was significantly lower in the Toothbrush group. Additionally, normalization of c-reactive protein levels occurred significantly faster in the Toothbrush group (p = 0.044). Therefore, using a toothbrush to treat spinal infections following spinal fusion surgery appears to have beneficial mechanical debridement effects, resulting in improved clinical results, which were also confirmed based on the electron microscopic images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study analyzed associations of cumulative learning, demographic characteristics, fluoride content, and toothbrush head size with the amount of toothpaste used by dental students. Methods: Students in the third and fifth year of dental school were recruited. Each participant was asked to dispense three toothpastes (pediatric, regular fluoride, and high fluoride) on five toothbrushes (rotation-oscillation, sonic, manual pediatric, and two manual adult toothbrushes). The length and weight of the toothpaste dispensed were recorded. The data were evaluated by nonparametric correlation analysis (P < 0.05). Results: Eighty-one students (third year = 42; fifth year = 39; mean age: 26.2 ± 5.3 years) participated in the study. More toothpaste was dispensed by third-year students than by fifth-year students (weight: P = 0.014; length: P = 0.037). Men dispensed more toothpaste than did women (weight: P < 0.001; length: P = 0.042). Participants with higher educational attainment dispensed less toothpaste (weight: P < 0.001; length: P < 0.001). The type of toothbrush was associated with the weight of toothpaste dispensed (P < 0.001). Toothbrush head size was inversely associated with the length of toothpaste dispensed (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The amount of toothpaste used by dental students was associated with cumulative learning, educational attainment, sex, and toothbrush head size but not with the fluoride content of the toothpaste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hormonal changes and physiological alterations in pregnancy increase the susceptibility of the woman to oral diseases such as plaque-induced gingivitis. In individual oral prophylaxis, effective tooth brushing can reduce gingival inflammation. Therefore, it is necessary to update the scientific evidence to identify which type of toothbrush, manual or sonic-powered, is most effective in reducing the incidence of gingivitis in pregnant women. The aim of this clinical trial is to compare the biofilm control effectiveness of two manual and two sonic toothbrushes in pregnant women. This study is designed as a four-arm, parallel, randomized controlled trial with an allocation ratio of 1:1:1:1. The pregnant woman will be included at 15–18 weeks of amenorrhea and followed for 3 months. The primary outcome will be the change in the incidence of gingival bleeding from a baseline and various follow-up periods of the study. Secondary outcomes measures will be to compare clinical effects of the toothbrushes tested on (i) gingival inflammation, (ii) dental plaque, (iii) gingival attachment and (iv) periodontal pocket; and to assess toothbrush acceptability. Thus, identifying the best device for effective tooth brushing in pregnancy could be helpful in reducing and improving the incidence of gingival inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Toothbrushes get contaminated with use and may be a source of infection and cross-contamination. Disinfection of toothbrushes after use results in reduction in amount of bacteria on toothbrushes. Various agents are used, like chlorhexidine, UV lights, triclosan, baking soda, neem, etc. for the same. Material and Methods A total of 120 individuals belonging to the age group of 8 to 11 years old were recruited. Six groups based on the disinfection solution and type of disinfectant were made: Group 1- bamboo toothbrush and water, group 2- nylon toothbrush and water, group 3- bamboo toothbrush and triclosan mouthwash, group 4- nylon toothbrush and triclosan mouthwash, group 5- bamboo toothbrush and baking soda and group 6- nylon toothbrush and baking soda. After brushing, the children/ parent were asked to disinfect the toothbrush for five minutes after every use for eight days. Bristle samples were collected on days 1 and 8 for the evaluation of CFU/ml of total bacterial count. Results A total of 118 participants completed the study. The mean bacterial counts in CFU/ml on day 1 were 7.17 ± 0.59, 7.12 ± 0.61, 6.73 ± 0.52, 6.94±0.67, 6.86±0.57 and 7.03±0.56 for group 1 to 6, respectively. The mean bacterial counts in CFU/ml on day 8 were 7.14 ± 0.57, 7.04 ± 0.58, 1.48 ± 0.36, 1.91 ± 0.35, 2.07±0.43 and 2.07±0.32 for group 1 to group 6, respectively. Conclusion Triclosan containing mouthwash and baking soda were both similar in terms of the disinfection of bamboo toothbrushes with plant based bristles and nylon toothbrushes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this systematic review is to compare the effectiveness of a powered (PTB) and a manual (MTB) toothbrush in the hands of people with physical (PD) or intellectual (ID) disabilities or in the hands of a caregiver on parameters of plaque and gingival inflammation. Methods: MEDLINE‐PubMed, Cochrane‐CENTRAL and EMBASE databases were searched from initiation up to February 2022. The inclusion criteria were clinical trials conducted in people with PDs or IDs and comparing the effect of toothbrushing with a PTB to an MTB on plaque removal and gingival health. Data were extracted from the eligible studies and analyzed in four subgroups based firstly on the person performing the toothbrushing, either the participants or a caregiver, not a dental professional, and secondly on the main disability of the participants, either PD or ID. Heterogeneity and risk of bias were assessed, data were extracted from the eligible studies, and a descriptive analysis was performed. Results: The search yielded 294 unique papers; after selection 16 eligible publications describing 25 comparisons were included: 12 self‐brushing and 13 caregiver‐brushing comparisons. Considerable clinical and methodological heterogeneity was present; together with limited numerical data, not allowing for a meta‐analysis. The descriptive analysis showed, in the majority, no statistically significant difference between PTB and MTB. This applied to self‐brushing and caregiver‐brushing in both disability groups. Conclusion: This review demonstrates with a low level of evidence that a PTB compared to an MTB in the hands of people with PD or ID or in the hands of their caregivers results in no clinical difference in effectiveness on parameters of plaque and gingival inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective This study aims to evaluate three types of manual toothbrushes [Cross action (CA), Flat trim (FT), and orthodontic type (OT)] in terms of efficacy in plaque removal in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. Background Manual toothbrushes are an essential part of oral hygiene for primary prevention. Plaque control, however, can be influenced by a number of individual and material-related factors. Individual factors include the presence of fixed orthodontic appliances on tooth surfaces, such as brackets and bands, which create difficulties with oral hygiene and lead to plaque formation. The evidence for the effectiveness of advanced bristle designs (multilevel, criss-cross) of the manual toothbrush alone in removing plaque in patients undergoing orthodontic therapy is limited. Methods The experiment followed the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines. This was a three treatment, three-period crossover clinical trial with a single brushing exercise. Thirty subjects were randomized to one of the three treatment sequences of different bristle designs: (CA, FT, and OT). The primary outcome measure was the difference in the plaque scores (baseline minus post-brushing) at each study period, as determined by the Turesky-Modified Quigley–Hein Plaque Index. Results Of the thirty-four subjects enrolled in the study, thirty of the subjects met the inclusion criteria and completed all three periods of the study. The mean age was 19.5 ± 1.52 years, with a range of 18–23 years. The differences between treatments in plaque score reduction after brushing were statistically significant (p-value

Abstract Background Penetrating injury of the oropharynx occurs frequently in children, however, anesthetic management is seldom described in such cases. Case presentation A 2-year old child came to the emergency room with a toothbrush impacted in the gingivobuccal sulcus making airway management difficult. We used a simple yet unique approach to secure the airway safely given the lack of pediatric size fibreoptic and videolaryngoscopes in our emergency operation theatre. The patient was kept in Pediatric ICU and watched for any complications and discharged on the 4th postoperative day. Conclusions Thus, ingenious non-invasive techniques to secure the airway can prevent the patient from undergoing surgical tracheostomy.

Objective:This study evaluated the effect of translucency on the color stability of resin-based composites (RBCs).Methods:Different translucent/opaque shades of RBCs were used: Filtek Ultimate (FU); A2 Enamel, A2 Dentin, A2 Body, IPS Empres Direct (IED); A2 Enamel, A2 Dentin, GC Essentia (GC); LE, MD, Estelite Ʃ Quick (EQ); OA2, A2, CeramX duoSphertec and One (CX); E2, D2, A2. Disc-shaped specimens were stained in coffe and then brushed. The color changes (ΔE) were calculated between baseline and treatment. One-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc test were used for statistical analysis (α=0.05).Results:After staining, the difference between the ΔE values of RBCs was not statistically significant, except GC LE. After both staining and brushing, the ΔE values of the enamel shades were the highest, and the order of ΔE values was body > dentin for ESQ and CX, dentin > body for FU.Conclusion:The ΔE values of the enamel shades were the highest after both staining and brushing.

This study aims to investigate whether toothbrushes with fluoride-infused bristles have any (re)mineralisation effects on bovine enamel. Bovine incisors (N = 160) were extracted, and the buccal side of the crown was cut into dimensions of ~5 mm × 5 mm with a low-speed saw. These specimens were randomly allocated into four groups: half (80 teeth) were stored in demineralising solution (DM), and the other half were stored in deionised water (DW) for 96 h. Then, they were brushed with a force of 2.0 ± 0.1 N for five min with a manual toothbrush with either fluoride-infused (TF) or regular (TR) bristles. Microhardness (Vickers), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to investigate the surfaces of the bovine enamel specimens before and after brushing. Two-way ANOVA was used to analyse the hardness data, and the pairwise comparison method was used to analyse the Ca/P ratio, for each group at α = 0.05. The results show that brushing with either of these toothbrushes increased the Vickers microhardness on DM and DW enamel (p < 0.001), whereas hydroxyapatite was revealed in all groups by XRD. The DM samples showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the Ca/P ratios after brushing with TR and TF. Conversely, under DW conditions, these ratios decreased significantly after brushing. In terms of the F atomic%, TF increased significantly. SEM revealed mineral deposition in the DM groups after toothbrushing. To conclude, toothbrushing effectively induces the microhardness of sound and demineralised enamel, while fluoride-infused bristles might be able to retain fluoride on the enamel surface.

Purpose: To investigate dental enamel wear caused by erosion and abrasion while using a combination of anti-erosive toothbrush/-paste.Materials and Methods: A total of 60 enamel specimens from bovine incisors were randomly assigned into five groups of 12 specimens each (G1-5, n = 12): (G1) control group (no treatment), (G2) standard medium toothbrush Paro M43 and standard toothpaste Elmex Caries Protection, (G3) standard medium toothbrush Paro M43 and anti-erosive toothpaste Elmex Protection Erosion, (G4) anti-erosive toothbrush Elmex Erosion Soft and standard toothpaste Elmex Caries Protection, (G5) anti-erosive toothbrush Elmex Erosion Soft and anti-erosive toothpaste Elmex Protection Erosion. Initially, surface baseline profiles were recorded using profilometry. In a total of 60 cycles, all specimens were exposed to hydrochloric acid (pH = 3) for 1 min, rinsed with tap water to stop the erosive attack and brushed according to the specific protocol of each group (15 brushing strokes per run). Enamel loss was determined by comparing the surface profiles before and after 60 cycles and the results were statistically analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA).Results: The significantly highest loss of enamel was observed in the control group G1(1.4 ± 0.20 µm) (p < 0.001). G2 turned out to be the most abrasive toothbrush/-paste combination (1.12 ± 0.15 µm), G3 the least invasive (0.40 ± 0.04 µm) (p < 0.001, respectively).Conclusion: All combinations of the investigated toothbrushes/-pastes reduce erosive/abrasive enamel wear. However, the highest reduction was observed for the combination of anti-erosive toothpaste and standard toothbrush (G3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, an extensive variety of toothpastes are available on the market, containing basic components that are ubiquitous in all toothpastes, in addition to unique constituents that bestow characteristic traits, and it is crucial to acknowledge that certain components found in toothpastes are not recommended for ingestion due to their potentially negative impact on overall wellbeing, especially in children. This study aims to highlight the role of natural components as a substitute for toothpaste in achieving good oral hygiene and to focus on natural compounds that do not injure the body, especially considering the current trend towards the use of natural substances. Thus, the objective of this paper is to emphasize the advantages of using organic products. In Romania, due to the socio-economic conditions in rural areas, the use of these ingredients, which are available to everyone, could lead to an improvement in oral health. The study shows that a majority of 63% of the participants who used a toothpaste composed of natural constituents achieved an ISL bacterial plaque index equivalent of zero. This is noteworthy as the presence of the plaque index was detected in a mere minority of 13% of the subjects at the commencement of the study. To evaluate the effectiveness of the mentioned compounds in plaque removal, all participants in the study were instructed to use the same brushing technique known as the Bass method, which is recognized as one of the most effective techniques. The study concludes that mastery and application of the correct brushing technique, combined with toothpaste obtained from natural compounds, is successful in removing plaque. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of a new toothbrush (Balene) for the mechanical removal of dental plaque in patients with acquired brain injury. Material and methods: The study group consisted of 25 adults with acquired brain injury. The participants underwent 2 sessions of toothbrushing lasting 1 min, one with a conventional toothbrush and the other with the Balene toothbrush. This new double-headed toothbrush has 6 active sides, which allows for the simultaneous toothbrushing of both alveolar arches, with elastomer bristles angled at 45°, as well a handle that rotates up to 180°. Therefore, the user does not need to remove the toothbrush from the oral cavity during the toothbrushing process. Dental plaque accumulation was assessed using the simplified oral hygiene index of Greene and Vermillion. Results: The plaque index was significantly reduced both with the Balene toothbrush (p < 0.001) and with the conventional toothbrush (p < 0.001). The dental plaque removal efficacy was similar with the two toothbrushes. There were also no statistically significant differences in the removal of plaque with the Balene toothbrush between the autonomous and assisted toothbrushing modalities (p = 0.345). Conclusions: For patients with acquired brain injury, the Balene toothbrush was as effective as a conventional toothbrush, regardless of whether the toothbrushing modality was autonomous or assisted. Clinical relevance: The Balene® toothbrush's efficacy in removing dental plaque is similar to that of conventional toothbrushes, both with the autonomous and assisted toothbrushing modality. Given its particular ergonomics, this toothbrush could be indicated for certain select patients with acquired brain injury (i.e., those whose degree of cooperation allows for toothbrushing, with a sufficient mouth opening, with no substantial abnormalities in the intermaxillary relationship, and with no significant edentulous sections). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most discussed topics in toothbrush design is identifying the contact force exerted by the bristles on the teeth. Each bristle must generate a contact force to ensure tooth cleaning without damaging it. Numerical simulation is a very powerful tool for understanding the influence of design parameters (bristle shape and materials). This paper proposes a flexible multibody model to efficiently simulate the 3D compliance of a toothbrush. Each bristle is modeled using a discrete, flexible approach. The contact between the bristles and the target surface is established using the penalty contact method. An experimental test bench with a Universal Robot and a flat, transparent surface is set up. Validation is provided by comparing the reaction forces of the toothbrush with the reaction forces acquired by the load cells mounted on the end effector of the Robot. The results demonstrate the accuracy of estimating normal and tangential forces in various operating situations. The discrete flexible multibody technique has also demonstrated its viability in evaluating the displacement of the bristles when the toothbrush's base body is put through a specified motion, even when it is exposed to a sudden change in direction. As a result, the model can be effectively utilized to assess how well various brush classes remove dental plaque. Therefore, the suggested model could provide guidance for holistic modeling and advancements in toothbrush design to boost their effectiveness for thorough cleaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The use of a toothbrush with radio frequency (RF) has shown to be of benefit regarding the reduction of plaque, calculus, and dental staining and improving teeth shade compared to conventional powered and manual toothbrushes. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of the RF toothbrush in the reduction of calculus accumulation and its effect on periodontal parameters as well as subject satisfaction as compared to an identical sham‐tooth brush. Materials and Methods: Patients who are under a strict maintenance program were included. Patients were allocated to test (RF toothbrush) or control (sham) randomly and were examined at baseline, one and three months. Clinical photos were taken and a consequential calculus assessment via ImageJ software. Clinical assessment included the following: plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD), and recession (REC). Patient satisfaction was assessed via a questionnaire. Results: Fifty‐eight patients (29 control, 29 test) were included. At baseline mean PPD, BOP, PI, REC, and calculus accumulation were similar between the groups. Mean buccal calculus was lower in the test group at one month 4.0% versus 6.7%, p <.05. Calculus accumulation within the groups was lower in the test group at 1 and 3 months when compared to baseline at the buccal aspect (2.8% vs. 8.9%, p <.05% and 3.8% vs. 8.9%, p <.05) and lingual aspect (6.7% vs. 16.5%, p <.05% and 8.9% vs. 16.5%, p <.05). No statistically significant results were found regarding periodontal parameters PPD, BOP, PI, and REC. No difference was found between groups regarding patient satisfaction. Conclusion: RF seems to have an additive effect on preventing calculus accumulation on the buccal aspect of anterior mandibular teeth at 1 month. Nevertheless, at 3 months, no difference between the toothbrushes is seen regarding calculus formation and maintaining periodontal health (ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier NCT04640857). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate toothbrush hygienic practices, whether subjects with a positive COVID‐19 test received instructions about toothbrush hygiene, and to determine if carriers of SARS CoV‐2 were assigned separate bathrooms during home isolation. Methods: Data were collected by an anonymous online questionnaire. Variables of interest included toothbrush hygiene practices, receiving instructions on toothbrush handling if tested positive for COVID‐19, and being assigned separate bathrooms during home isolation. Results: From November 2020 through April 2021; 755 responded (472 [62.5%] females, 269 [35.6%] males, 14 [1.85%] did not specify their gender). 14 (4.1%) of 341 respondents who reported a positive result of a COVID‐19 test received instructions about how to maintain their toothbrush during home isolation. The majority of subjects (74.4%) reported the use of water to wet their toothbrush before brushing, this practice was significantly more common among young subjects (p < 0.001). 58.6% wash all parts of the toothbrush after use while 38.8% wash the head of the toothbrush, and 1.6% place the toothbrush in an antiseptic. 53% used separate bathrooms during isolation, this was significantly associated with age group (p = 0.006) and higher monthly income (p = 0.02). Conclusions: The majority of participants with a positive result of the COVID‐19 test were not given explicit instructions about toothbrush handling. Less than half reported good toothbrush hygienic practices. Higher monthly income was significantly associated with using a separate bathroom during home isolation. Providing explicit instructions about toothbrush hygiene is recommended to reduce the spread of contagious diseases such as COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study was performed to evaluate the effects of varying brushing times on the dental plaque‐removal efficacy of a power toothbrush to determine the optimal length of time required to brush the teeth. Methods: A typodont with 32 teeth was divided into four quadrants and further divided into four zones each (two teeth per zone). Using a robotic arm, toothbrushing was performed over eight different brushing times (0, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300, 360, and 420 s) to remove the artificial plaque applied on the labial surface of the teeth in occlusion. Photographs were taken every 60 s from each zone of the typodont. The images obtained were processed using ImageJ software to measure the percentage of remaining plaque. Data were analysed with factorial ANOVA, least squares regression analysis, and post hoc Tukey tests. Results: Plaque removal significantly increased with brushing time across the brushing intervals studied (p < 0.05). Efficient plaque removal was achieved after 240 s of brushing. There was no significant difference in plaque accumulations between the maxillary and mandibular arch (p = 0.19) and the right and left areas after each time interval (p = 0.49). Conclusion: Brushing duration is negatively correlated with the remaining plaque for a given toothbrush. Two minutes of brushing is not sufficient for significant plaque removal. Considering the limitations of this in vitro study, clinical studies are needed in order to change brushing recommendations to 240 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-renewable materials like plastics are widely applied on toothbrush handles and bristles. Polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE) is often used to fabricate the toothbrush handle, while nylon (PA) is used to form the bristle. These plastics are sourced from non-renewable fossil fuels. The primary greenhouse gases—nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2)—in the Earth's atmosphere are released during the production of these plastics. Bamboo can generate 30% more oxygen than most plants and trees, which absorbs twice as much carbon dioxide as trees. A comparison of the cradle-to-grave material requirements between bamboo and plastic toothbrushes reveals that bamboo toothbrushes entail hidden environmental costs. Nevertheless, bamboo toothbrushes can be completely decomposed in the environment, which makes them eco-friendly and sustainable green products. This research aims to develop a bamboo toothbrush handle machine with a human–machine interactive interface and production management for optimizing process conditions. The machine is designed as a double-group to stably mass-produce high-quality bamboo toothbrush handles under optimal process conditions. Although bamboo is a sustainable green material, the shaping process is difficult due to an extremely anisotropic property in the bamboo structures. An improper process condition will induce a rough or scorched surface, which may further cause a tearing crack. The bamboo toothbrush handle milling machine is usually designed by a profiler, which uses various molds to change the shapes and sizes of bamboo toothbrush handles. This machine cannot probe the accurate cutting force for optimizing the cutting operations, paths, and parameters. The proposed equipment with a double-group design includes two storage racks of raw materials, two feeding devices, two exchange clamping devices, and a dual-spindle milling system required to form the shaping process of bamboo toothbrush handles. The whole system is propelled by a computer numerical control (CNC) SYNTEC controller, which can fabricate the bamboo toothbrush handle with various shapes and dimensions. This controller is integrated with a LabVIEW human–machine interactive interface via a Modbus RTU communication protocol. The optimal milling paths, manufacturing methods, and feeding rates are verified by a surveillance system to detect the instant currents of both spindles via the trial-and-error method and mass production. The maximum output of the equipment can reach four bamboo toothbrush handles per minute and 1600 bamboo toothbrush handles per day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Chewable toothbrushes were compared to traditional manual toothbrushes in terms of their ability to remove plaque and their impact on salivary pH in a sample of school-aged children. Materials and Methods: The sample size for this research was 200 youngsters aged 10-12. Saliva was collected by spitting into a clean container, and the pH levels were measured using color-coded pH strips to determine where the person was starting from. The plaque score was measured using the OHI-S index after the application of the disclosing agent. The pH and plaque scores were also recalculated after brushing to see how they had changed after surgery. Results: Results indicated that both manual and chewable brushes significantly improved post-brushing pH ratings (P = 0.001), and that plaque scores decreased (P = 0.001). When compared to conventional manual toothbrushes, the chewable brush was much more successful in reducing plaque and elevating salivary pH (P = 0.001). Conclusion: As a result, parents may offer their kids a chewable toothbrush to help them maintain good oral hygiene after lunch and on lengthy car trips, when they would not have time to wash their teeth properly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the problems of complex structure and low efficiency in traditional brush head feeding system, the brush head feeding system was developed based on visual detection and positioning. The image of brush head was segmented by OTSU method, and the moment of image was calculated to obtain the gesture of brush head. The ellipse fitting of the brush head was carried out, and the center of the ellipse was taken as the position of brush head to judge the two sides of brush head by support vector machine. The robot trajectory was determined by 3-4-5 polynomial motion law to control the robot running smoothly, and the brush head feeding system was established. The test results show that the designed system can quickly and accurately realize the position determination of brush head, and the error is less than 0.3 mm. The system can work at the speed of 5 seconds per unit, which meets the demand of brush head feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Considering the rising prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), this study aimed to investigate the relationship between MetS and its components with oral and dental health in the adult population of the Azar cohort. Methods: In this cross-sectional study oral health care behaviors, DMFT (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) index, and demographic data related to 15,006 patients (5112 in the MetS group and 9894 in the healthy group) of the Azar Cohort population aging from 35 to 70 were collected using appropriate questionnaires. The definition of MetS was based on the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria. Then, the risk factors of MetS related to oral health behaviors were determined by proper statistical analysis. Results: The majority of MetS patients were female (66%) and uneducated (23%) (P < 0.001). In the MetS group, the DMFT index (22.15 ± 8.89) was significantly (p < 0.001) higher (20.81 ± 8.94) than the no MetS group. Not brushing at all was associated with increased odds of MetS (unadjusted OR = 1.12, adjusted OR = 1.18). Flossing less than once a day was associated with increased odds of abdominal obesity (unadjusted OR = 1.17, 95%CI = 1.03–1.32) and hyperglycemia (unadjusted OR = 1.88, 95%CI = 1.61–2.20). Conclusions: This study showed that in MetS patients of the Azar cohort study, oral hygiene was worse compared to that in the no MetS group. Further studies are suggested to encourage oral hygiene among the general population which has more beneficiary effects than has been known before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of 2 newly designed toothbrushes used by elderly individuals based on plaque removal and gingival inflammation reduction compared with 2 commercially available toothbrushes. Materials and methods: This was a randomised, controlled, single-blind, 4-period crossover clinical trial. Thirty elderly participants meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated into 4 groups, which determined the sequence of the 4 toothbrushes: CUdent/extra soft, CUdent/soft, GoodAge, and Colgate. The participants’ baseline bleeding on probing (BOP) and plaque index (PI) were assessed by one blinded calibrated examiner, then their teeth were professionally cleaned. The participants were assigned to use the tested toothbrush and were recalled for postbrushing examination 2 weeks later to evaluate their BOP and PI. At the end of each test period, the participants used their own toothbrush during the 2-week washout period before using the next tested toothbrush. Results: The mean age of the 30 participants was 63.2 years. The mean baseline BOP score was 44.4%, and mean baseline PI was 2.7. Three participants dropped out; thus, 27 participants (15 females and 12 males) provided data throughout the study period. The participant characteristics and baseline data between the groups were similar. CUdent/extra soft and CUdent/soft demonstrated significantly better PI scores at the buccal surfaces than GoodAge (P < .05). CUdent/soft had the lowest PI scores and Colgate presented the lowest BOP score in every comparison for other areas; however, the differences were not significant. No signs of tissue trauma or abrasion were observed. Conclusions: The newly designed toothbrushes were comparable to the commercially available toothbrushes in plaque removal efficacy and reducing gingival inflammation. CUdent/extra soft and soft were significantly more effective in plaque removal in the buccal regions than GoodAge.

Aim: Chewable toothbrushes were compared to traditional manual toothbrushes in terms of their ability to remove plaque and their impact on salivary pH in a sample of school-aged children. Materials and Methods: The sample size for this research was 200 youngsters aged 10–12. Saliva was collected by spitting into a clean container, and the pH levels were measured using color-coded pH strips to determine where the person was starting from. The plaque score was measured using the OHI-S index after the application of the disclosing agent. The pH and plaque scores were also recalculated after brushing to see how they had changed after surgery. Results: Results indicated that both manual and chewable brushes significantly improved post-brushing pH ratings (P = 0.001), and that plaque scores decreased (P = 0.001). When compared to conventional manual toothbrushes, the chewable brush was much more successful in reducing plaque and elevating salivary pH (P = 0.001). Conclusion: As a result, parents may offer their kids a chewable toothbrush to help them maintain good oral hygiene after lunch and on lengthy car trips, when they would not have time to wash their teeth properly.

Introduction: The novel coronavirus disease has brought to the forefront the importance of oral hygiene aids and its role in the prevention of COVID-19 transmission. Objectives: The objective is to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice of oral hygiene aids and its role in COVID-19 transmission. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 385 patients visiting Vishnu dental college. The questionnaire included demographic data, history of COVID, and vaccination status. The second part included questions regarding knowledge, attitude, and practice of oral hygiene aids and its role in COVID-19 transmission. Results: Mean age of the population was 40.11 years, and had almost equal proportions of males and females. About 22.6% of the population had suffered from COVID-19 and 92.7% of men got fully vaccinated. Knowledge of COVID-19 transmission through oral hygiene aids was found in 57.4% of the population. No difference in knowledge of occupational health advisor (OHA) and its role in COVID transmission was found between gender, COVID, and vaccination status (P > 0.05). About 22.9% of graduates had higher knowledge than others (P = 0.00). Conclusions: The use of appropriate oral hygiene aids and practices could prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

Abstract Background Maintaining good oral hygiene is key to preventing dental caries and periodontal disease. Children and adolescents with good oral hygiene behaviours are likely to grow into adults with the same behaviours. This study assessed the frequency of using various oral hygiene methods among children and adolescents from different countries and individual, familial and country-level factors associated with the use of these methods. Methods A multi-country online survey collected data from caregivers of children in 2020–21 about children’s use of oral hygiene methods including toothbrush, fluoridated toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss and miswak using self-administered, close-ended questions. Adjusted multilevel logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between each of the five oral hygiene methods (dependent variables) and the independent factors: sex, age, and history of dental visits (individual factors), mother's education and area of residence (familial factors) as well as country income and region (country-level factors). Results A total of 4766 parents/caregivers were included from 20 countries (77.4% Eastern Mediterranean-region and 41.6% lower middle income countries). The most frequent oral hygiene methods were using toothbrush and toothpaste (90% and 60.3%). The use of oral hygiene methods differed by age, sex and history of dental visits as well as mother’s education and area of residence (P

Introduction: Although different methods have been recommended for cleaning orthodontic retainers, a standard method has not yet been introduced. The present study aimed at evaluating the antibacterial effect of three different methods in cleaning Hawley and Essix retainers.Materials and Methods: A total of 30 patients with orthodontic appliances who were candidates for receiving orthodontic retainers after their treatment were divided into two groups, including Hawley and Essix (n=15 each). Each patient used three home disinfection protocols for cleaning the retainers. Protocol 1: the patients were instructed to clean their retainer using their received toothbrush and toothpaste 3 times a day. Protocol 2: the patients cleaned their retainers the same as in protocol 1. In addition, they were instructed to spray the retainer with 0.12% chlorhexidine for 30 min every night. Protocol 3: the patients were instructed to soak their retainer in distilled white vinegar (50%) for 15 min every night and then clean their retainer in the same way as in protocol 1. Each protocol was applied for 2 weeks, and there was a 2-week wash-out interval between the protocols. At the end of each protocol, samples were taken from each retainer and the number of Streptococcus mutans colonies was counted and compared between the groups. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used for statistical analysis (P≤0.05).Results: Antibacterial effectiveness of the three cleaning protocols did not show a significant difference in the Essix and Hawley groups (P=0.510 and P=0.095, respectively). However, a significant difference between the two types of retainers was observed when the patients used protocol 2 for cleaning the retainers.Conclusion: Spraying chlorhexidine or soaking in vinegar following brushing of the retainers was equally effective as brushing the retainers with toothpaste alone.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate three types of manual toothbrushes [Cross action (CA), Flat trim (FT), and orthodontic type (OT)] in terms of efficacy in plaque removal in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. Background: Manual toothbrushes are an essential part of oral hygiene for primary prevention. Plaque control, however, can be influenced by a number of individual and material-related factors. Individual factors include the presence of fixed orthodontic appliances on tooth surfaces, such as brackets and bands, which create difficulties with oral hygiene and lead to plaque formation. The evidence for the effectiveness of advanced bristle designs (multilevel, criss-cross) of the manual toothbrush alone in removing plaque in patients undergoing orthodontic therapy is limited. Methods: The experiment followed the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines. This was a three treatment, three-period crossover clinical trial with a single brushing exercise. Thirty subjects were randomized to one of the three treatment sequences of different bristle designs: (CA, FT, and OT). The primary outcome measure was the difference in the plaque scores (baseline minus post-brushing) at each study period, as determined by the Turesky-Modified Quigley–Hein Plaque Index. Results: Of the thirty-four subjects enrolled in the study, thirty of the subjects met the inclusion criteria and completed all three periods of the study. The mean age was 19.5 ± 1.52 years, with a range of 18–23 years. The differences between treatments in plaque score reduction after brushing were statistically significant (p-value <.001). The treatment differences were statistically significant (p-value <.001) favoring the FT toothbrush over the OT and CA types of toothbrush designs. On the contrary, the difference between the OT and CA types was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Plaque was significantly removed by the conventional FT toothbrush after a single brushing compared to the OT and CA types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]