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Objectives: This review aimed to compare the effectiveness of using a dental water jet (WJ) to manual tooth brushing (MTB) alone or when combined with flossing (MTB + F) in improving plaque index (PI), bleeding index (BI), and gingival index (GI) in regular and orthodontic patients. Materials and Method: This review was registered with the PROSPERO registry (CRD42022296752). Three reviewers conducted a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar for studies published between 1990 and July 2022. Eligible studies were randomized clinical trials, excluding those involving peri-implantitis, patients with impaired manual dexterity, or powered brushes. The outcomes of interest (PI, BI, and GI) were measured across short-, intermediate-, and long-term periods. Results: Eighteen RCTs were included in this review. PI: in regular patients, use of a WJ showed no additional improvement over flossing, and the results were inconsistent when compared to MTB alone. For orthodontic patients, use of a WJ provided a slight improvement over flossing in the short term and MTB alone in the intermediate term. BI: use of a WJ demonstrated a slight improvement over flossing and MTB alone in both patient groups at different time points. GI: use of a WJ was comparable to flossing but showed slight benefits over MTB alone in the short term for regular patients and in the intermediate term for orthodontic patients. Conclusions: use of a WJ may provide slight benefits in BI and GI compared to flossing or MTB alone, especially for orthodontic patients. Clinical relevance: incorporating a WJ into the daily oral hygiene routine is recommended due to its potential benefits over brushing alone and its user-friendly alternative to flossing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine and compare the effects of tissue flossing compared to massage and stretching on the lower extremity function condition - range of motion ROM of the, and muscle strength and pain perception in the knee. Materials and methods: This study involved 16 patients that were divided in two groups, Group A - controlled (n=8) (male=5, female=3) mean age 36±4.2 years and Group B - experimental (n=8), (male=4, female=4) mean age 38±3,8 years. All patients were with impaired knee function, involving to a different degree: pain, limited range of motion and decreased muscle strength. The controlled group received a treatment of massage and stretching and the experimental group a tissue flossing therapy. Before and after the treatment we measured the levels of pain, ROM and muscle strength. Results: the therapy modalities for both groups showed positive impact on the patient's condition with slightly better results in the experimental group. Statistical significance was marked in the measurement of VAS, ROM flexion and dynamometry testing. Conclusion: Tissue flossing has a positive influence on decreasing of pain and normalization of range of motion and enhancing muscle strength and control, we recommend its use as a main or additional treatment modality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in societies is increasing. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of medical conditions that include obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. Poor dental care is linked to numerous systemic disorders. Scientific research supports the presence of a relationship between oral hygiene and metabolic syndrome. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the relationship between oral hygiene based on DMFT (decayed, missing, filled teeth) and metabolic syndrome in the registration phase data of the Tabari cohort population. Materials and methods: This study was cross-sectional and analytical and included participants from the Tabari cohort population who had performed oral health and metabolic syndrome assessments during the registration phase. Throughout the registration period of the Tabari cohort study (TCS), data was gathered from 10255 individuals ranging from 35 to 70 years old. This data was obtained from both urban and mountainous parts of Sari, Mazandaran, Iran, during the years 2015 and 2017. Data regarding education level, occupation status, residential location, socio-economic status, marital status, mental health history, smoking or hookah habits, daily physical activity, dental hygiene practices (such as tooth brushing and flossing frequency), denture usage and care, mouthwash usage, and DMFT index were gathered during the implementation of TCS through interviews and oral examinations. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed based on the criteria of the third adult treatment panel (ATP III). Ultimately, SPSS version 27 software was utilized to describe the data using mean, standard deviation, and percentage. The qualitative variables were compared with the metabolic syndrome using the chi-square test, while the quantitative variables were compared using the independent t-test in univariate analysis. Furthermore, the process of adjusting for confounding variables was carried out through the utilization of multivariate logistic regression. Results: 9,939 people were included in the final analysis. Independent T-test result showed that there was no significant relationship between metabolic syndrome and DMFT (P=0.156, T=4.59), so the average DMFT in the group with metabolic syndrome was 17.66±9.07, whereas in the non-affected group, it was 16.81±8.99. Based on chi-square test results, significant relationships with metabolic syndrome were found for the use of dentures (P

Background and purpose: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in societies is increasing. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of medical conditions that include obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. Poor dental care is linked to numerous systemic disorders. Scientific research supports the presence of a relationship between oral hygiene and metabolic syndrome. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the relationship between oral hygiene based on DMFT (decayed, missing, filled teeth) and metabolic syndrome in the registration phase data of the Tabari cohort population. Materials and methods: This study was cross-sectional and analytical and included participants from the Tabari cohort population who had performed oral health and metabolic syndrome assessments during the registration phase. Throughout the registration period of the Tabari cohort study (TCS), data was gathered from 10255 individuals ranging from 35 to 70 years old. This data was obtained from both urban and mountainous parts of Sari, Mazandaran, Iran, during the years 2015 and 2017. Data regarding education level, occupation status, residential location, socio-economic status, marital status, mental health history, smoking or hookah habits, daily physical activity, dental hygiene practices (such as tooth brushing and flossing frequency), denture usage and care, mouthwash usage, and DMFT index were gathered during the implementation of TCS through interviews and oral examinations. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed based on the criteria of the third adult treatment panel (ATP III). Ultimately, SPSS version 27 software was utilized to describe the data using mean, standard deviation, and percentage. The qualitative variables were compared with the metabolic syndrome using the chi-square test, while the quantitative variables were compared using the independent t-test in univariate analysis. Furthermore, the process of adjusting for confounding variables was carried out through the utilization of multivariate logistic regression. Results: 9,939 people were included in the final analysis. Independent T-test result showed that there was no significant relationship between metabolic syndrome and DMFT (P=0.156, T=4.59), so the average DMFT in the group with metabolic syndrome was 17.66±9.07, whereas in the non-affected group, it was 16.81±8.99. Based on chisquare test results, significant relationships with metabolic syndrome were found for the use of dentures (P<0.001), use of dental floss (P<0.001), age (P<0.001), gender (P<0.001), marital status (P=0.05), occupation (P<0.001), place of residence (P<0.001), psychiatric disorders (P<0.001), socio-economic status (P=0.005), smoking (P<0.001), BMI (P<0.001), MET (P<0.001), and education level (P<0.001). Upon adjustment of confounders in the multivariable logistic regression model, only the number of flossing twice a day was significantly associated with metabolic syndrome (OR 1.493 [95% CI 1.008-2.213], P=0.046). Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that there is no significant relationship between oral and dental hygiene measured by the DMFT index and the presence of metabolic syndrome in the population registration stage data of the Tabari cohort. There was a significant relationship identified alone between flossing twice daily and metabolic syndrome. Further studies are necessary to explore other potential factors that may contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background To investigate the effects of combinations of mechanical (brushing and flossing) and chemotherapeutic regimens which included essential oils (EO) non-alcohol and alcohol-containing mouthrinses compared to brushing only in the prevention and reduction of plaque, gingivitis, and gingival bleeding. Methods This was a randomized, virtually supervised, examiner blind, controlled clinical trial. Following informed consent and screening, subjects (N = 270) with gingivitis were randomly assigned to one of the following regimens: (1) Brush Only (B, n = 54); (2) Brush/Rinse (EO alcohol-containing mouthrinse) (BA, n = 54); (3) Brush/Rinse (EO non-alcohol containing mouthrinse) (BZ, n = 54); (4) Brush/Floss (BF, n = 54); (5) Brush/Floss/Rinse (EO non-alcohol containing mouthrinse) (BFZ, n = 54). Unflavored waxed dental floss (REACH unflavored waxed dental floss), and fluoridated toothpaste (Colgate Cavity Protection) were used. Examinations included oral hard and soft tissue, plaque, gingivitis, gingival bleeding, probing depth and bleeding on probing. Results After 12 weeks, both BA and BZ and the BFZ group were superior in reducing interproximal plaque (30.8%, 18.2%, 16.0%, respectively), gingivitis (39.0%, 36.9%, 36.1%, respectively), and bleeding (67.8%, 73.6%, 79.8%, respectively) compared to B. The BF group did not provide significant reductions in interproximal plaque but did reduce interproximal gingivitis (5.1%, p = 0.041) at Week 4 and bleeding at Weeks 4 and 12 (34.6%, 31.4%, p

Background: To investigate the effects of combinations of mechanical (brushing and flossing) and chemotherapeutic regimens which included essential oils (EO) non-alcohol and alcohol-containing mouthrinses compared to brushing only in the prevention and reduction of plaque, gingivitis, and gingival bleeding. Methods: This was a randomized, virtually supervised, examiner blind, controlled clinical trial. Following informed consent and screening, subjects (N = 270) with gingivitis were randomly assigned to one of the following regimens: (1) Brush Only (B, n = 54); (2) Brush/Rinse (EO alcohol-containing mouthrinse) (BA, n = 54); (3) Brush/Rinse (EO non-alcohol containing mouthrinse) (BZ, n = 54); (4) Brush/Floss (BF, n = 54); (5) Brush/Floss/Rinse (EO non-alcohol containing mouthrinse) (BFZ, n = 54). Unflavored waxed dental floss (REACH unflavored waxed dental floss), and fluoridated toothpaste (Colgate Cavity Protection) were used. Examinations included oral hard and soft tissue, plaque, gingivitis, gingival bleeding, probing depth and bleeding on probing. Results: After 12 weeks, both BA and BZ and the BFZ group were superior in reducing interproximal plaque (30.8%, 18.2%, 16.0%, respectively), gingivitis (39.0%, 36.9%, 36.1%, respectively), and bleeding (67.8%, 73.6%, 79.8%, respectively) compared to B. The BF group did not provide significant reductions in interproximal plaque but did reduce interproximal gingivitis (5.1%, p = 0.041) at Week 4 and bleeding at Weeks 4 and 12 (34.6%, 31.4%, p < 0.001 respectively) compared to B. The BFZ group did not significantly reduce interproximal plaque, gingivitis or bleeding compared to BZ. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the addition of EO non-alcohol containing mouthrinse to the manual toothbrushing and flossing regimen further reduces plaque, gingivitis and bleeding showing that addition of EO mouthrinses (alcohol or non-alcohol containing) to the oral hygiene regimen provides sustained reductions in plaque to help maintain gingival health after a dental prophylaxis. Dental professional recommendation of the addition of an EO non-alcohol containing mouthrinse to daily oral hygiene routines of brushing or brushing and flossing should be considered to aid supragingival plaque control and improve gingivitis prevention. Study registry number: NCT05600231. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smokers are at high risk of oral disease and report sub-optimal oral hygiene. Improving smokers' oral hygiene could reduce their future disease risk. The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of a novel, multi-modal oral health promotion program (Oral Health 4 Life; OH4L) targeted to socioeconomically disadvantaged smokers and delivered through state-funded tobacco quitlines. Smokers (n = 718) were randomized to standard quitline care or standard care plus OH4L. OH4L recipients received a comprehensive behavioral intervention and were advised of the benefits of routine oral hygiene, encouraged to brush and floss daily (for better oral health and to manage cigarette cravings), and provided a toothbrush and floss. Participants were followed for 6 months to assess the intervention effects on routine oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) and changes in motivation and self-efficacy. Data were collected between 2015 and 2017. At 2-month follow-up, OH4L participants were more likely to meet the American Dental Association (ADA) recommendations for brushing twice daily (adjusted RR = 1.15 [1.04, 1.27], p = .006), flossing daily (adjusted RR = 1.20 [1.03, 1.39], p = .02), and for both brushing and flossing (adjusted RR = 1.33 [1.10, 1.61], p = .003). Daily flossing was more likely at 6-month follow-up (adjusted RR = 1.21 [1.04, 1.42], p = .02) among OH4L participants. The change in self-efficacy and motivation for daily flossing from baseline to 2 months was significantly greater among OH4L participants and mediated the intervention effect on flossing at 6 months. Integrating oral hygiene promotion with standard tobacco quitline services improved oral health self-care.

Abstract Background Interdental cleaning is recommended by dentists but many people do not floss regularly. The health benefits of interdental cleaning are delayed, and sensitivity to delay is an important factor in many health behaviors. Thus, the present studies explore the relationship between frequency of flossing, and sensitivity to delayed and probabilistic outcomes. Method Crowd-sourced subjects were recruited in two studies (n = 584 and n = 321, respectively). In both studies, subjects reported their frequency of flossing and completed delay discounting and probability discounting tasks. Discounting was measured with area under the curve, and linear regression was used to analyze the results. Results Findings show that higher levels of delay discounting were associated with less frequent flossing (p

Background: Interdental cleaning is recommended by dentists but many people do not floss regularly. The health benefits of interdental cleaning are delayed, and sensitivity to delay is an important factor in many health behaviors. Thus, the present studies explore the relationship between frequency of flossing, and sensitivity to delayed and probabilistic outcomes. Method: Crowd-sourced subjects were recruited in two studies (n = 584 and n = 321, respectively). In both studies, subjects reported their frequency of flossing and completed delay discounting and probability discounting tasks. Discounting was measured with area under the curve, and linear regression was used to analyze the results. Results: Findings show that higher levels of delay discounting were associated with less frequent flossing (p < 0.001, both studies). In contrast, probability discounting was not significantly associated with flossing frequency (ns, both studies). Conclusion: The findings are consistent with prior studies involving other health behaviors such as attendance at primary care and medication adherence. Results suggest that interventions that reduce delay discounting may help promote regular interdental cleaning, and that delay discounting is a more robust predictor of health behaviors than probability discounting. In addition, interdental cleaning appears to be a reasonable target behavior for evaluating potentially generalizable behavioral health interventions. Thus, interventions that are successful in promoting oral health behaviors should be considered as candidates for evaluation in other health behavior domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the present study aimed to review the application of the model concerning oral hygiene practice and to identify the frequently used constructs of the model. This review presented the validity of the psychometric properties of the model in explaining the oral hygiene practice; the review might have a limitation as it is limited by only the last 10 years beside the English language. This review might form a quick reference for the studies during the period of review.

Objective: To compare personal oral hygiene practices between first and final year dental students of Foundation University College of Dentistry (FUCD). Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Foundation University College of Dentistry, Islamabad, from Mar to May 2019. Methodology: A pre-structured questionnaire was distributed to students of first and final year BDS classes with questions related to seven basic oral hygiene practices. These included frequency of teeth cleaning, time spent in cleaning teeth, tools used for cleaning teeth, frequency of changing toothbrushes, use of secondary plaque control methods, whether or not students cleaned their tongue, and how often they visited a dentist. Results: Only 2 out of 7 practices, (i.e. more frequency of brushing, 45/52 (86.5% in final year vs 25/47 (53.1% in first year and usage of floss 22/52 (42.3%) in final year vs 9/47 (19.1%) in first year) were found to be significantly better in final year students when compared to first year BDS students with a p-value of 0.012 and 0.04 respectively. The remaining differences did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: When compared with first year BDS students, only 2 out of 7recommended oral hygiene practices were found to be better in final year students. Therefore, there is a need for greater emphasis on oral hygiene practices at undergraduate educational years.

Purpose: Effective use of mechanical plaque control devices can depend on individual manual dexterity levels. The purpose of this component of a 12-week, virtually-supervised clinical trial was to investigate the role of manual dexterity on clinical outcomes for gingivitis, as measured by the relationship between manual dexterity scores on the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) and the effects of various mechanical and chemotherapeutic oral hygiene regimens. Methods: This was a single-center, examiner blinded, randomized, four-treatment arm, parallel group, 12-week plaque and gingivitis study. At baseline, healthy adult volunteers with evidence of gingivitis were assessed for manual dexterity and were then examined for plaque, gingivitis and bleeding. After a dental prophylaxis, participants were randomized into four treatment groups: brush only (BO); brush/rinse (BR); brush/floss (BF); and brush/floss/rinse (BFR). The flossing groups received instruction in flossing. The PPT was used to assess manual dexterity and was performed by a licensed occupational therapist. Virtual supervision was required once each weekday and the oral hygiene regimen was unsupervised on evenings and weekends. Results: Of the 213 subjects enrolled, 209 completed the trial. Improvements from baseline to week 12 in interproximal percent nonbleeding healthy sites (Expanded Bleeding Index (EBI)=0 and Modified Gingival Index (MGI)=0 or 1) were dependent on the participant's dexterity score. Participants with the lowest dexterity scores (9 or lower) in the BFR treatment group demonstrated the greatest improvement interproximally based on the indices (EBI and MGI). In comparison, the BF test group subjects with dexterity scores 9 or lower had limited change in improvement interproximally. There was a direct correlation between flossing effectiveness and dexterity scores. Conclusions: Less manual dexterity can limit dental flossing effectiveness. Flossing is a difficult daily task that requires functional bilateral dexterity to be perform correctly. Individuals with lower levels of manual dexterity were shown to benefit from the addition of an essential oil mouthrinse to a regimen of toothbrushing and flossing in this clinical trial. The addition of an essential oil mouthrinse improved interproximal gingival health and mitigated the manual dexterity variable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Various mechanical and chemotherapeutic methods are used to control dental plaque accumulation and prevent or reduce gingivitis. The purpose of this 12-week clinical trial was to investigate the effects of various combinations of supervised mechanical and chemotherapeutic regimens on the prevention and reduction of plaque, gingivitis, and gingival bleeding. Methods: Volunteers presenting with some evidence of gingivitis and no severe periodontitis were randomized into four groups: brush only (BO); brush/rinse (BR); brush/floss (BF); brush/floss/rinse (BFR) for this examiner-blinded clinical trial. Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and a mouthrinse containing a fixed combination of four essential oils (EO) and training/ instructions were provided to participants as per their assigned group. Participants performed their regimen at home, under virtual supervision, once each weekday; the second daily and weekend uses were unsupervised. Assessments included oral hard and soft tissue, plaque, gingivitis, and gingival bleeding (weeks 4, 12); probing depth and bleeding on probing (week 12). Results: Of 213 enrolled participants, 209 completed the study. After 12 weeks, plaque, gingivitis, and gingival bleeding were significantly reduced in groups BR (35.8%, 50.8%, and 71.0% respectively, p<0.001) and BFR (32.8%, 54.1%, and 78.2% respectively, p<0.001) compared to BO. After 12 weeks, gingivitis and gingival bleeding were significantly reduced in the BF group (9.2%, p=0.013 and 17.5%, p=0.003, respectively), however there were no significant reductions in plaque in the BF group as compared to the BO group (p=0.935). Conclusions: Oral care regimens that included a mouthrinse containing a fixed combination of four EOs (BR and BFR), demonstrated statistically significantly reduced plaque, gingivitis, and gingival bleeding as compared to BO and BF after 12 weeks. The BF regimen statistically significantly reduced gingivitis and gingival bleeding but did not statistically significantly reduce plaque compared to BO after 12 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flossing is considered to be an integral component of oral hygiene. The authors evaluated trends in daily flossing and their associations with sociodemographic variables. The authors used data from the 2009-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, accounting for survey weights in all analyses. Descriptive statistics were computed for all study variables. Pooled univariable and multivariable logistic regression were performed to evaluate which sociodemographic factors were associated with daily flossing and to assess potential interactions with survey periods. Multivariable logistic regression was performed and stratified according to survey period. This study included 26,624 adults. Although the prevalence of daily flossing increased from 29.4% in 2009 through 2010 to 34.8% in 2017 through 2020, this increase was not significant after multivariable adjustment. Results of the pooled survey logistic regression also showed that participants who were older, female, Hispanic, and had a higher income to poverty ratio had higher odds of daily flossing. The interaction between education and survey period was significantly associated with daily flossing (P =.012). Logistic regression for each survey period corroborated the pooled model results. Approximately 1 in 3 adults in the United States reported flossing daily (32.7%). Although the prevalence of daily flossing increased from 2009 through 2020, this change was not significant after controlling for sociodemographic variables. The nonsignificant changes in flossing behavior from 2009 through 2020 suggest that messaging to encourage adults to floss daily has had little effect. Although the authors did not elucidate the benefits of flossing, dental providers should continue to consider encouraging patients to floss until new evidence suggests otherwise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To compare clinical efficacy for plaque removal between dental floss with soft ellipsoidal knots and conventional floss. Materials and Methods: We studied 33 university students (29 females and 4 males, 13 of them undergraduate/postgraduate students of dentistry), including regular and sporadic (less once/wk) users of dental floss, with interproximal spaces ≤1 mm, who used floss with and without knots in a randomized manner following a split‐mouth design. The Modified Navy Plaque Index (RMNPI) by Rustogi et al. was applied to determine the total removed plaque (TPI) and that removed in the gingival area (GPI) and interproximal spaces (IPI). Results: The reduction in GPI was greater with the knotted vs conventional floss in all cases (14.77 ± 12.38; 64.79% vs 17.38 ± 13.66; 57.51%) and especially among no floss users (12.469 ± 10.98; 68.02% vs 15.833 ± 11.88; 58.55%). No statistically significant difference between floss types was found in TPI and IPI (globally or by floss utilization frequency) or in the mean GPI of floss users. Conclusion: Floss with ellipsoidal knots showed similar efficacy to remove plaque in patients with less experience of flossing (but without statistically significant differences) compared with flossing themselves with conventional floss, and it may be an optimal solution for patients starting to use dental floss and for those with a lesser or only sporadic history of floss utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term effectiveness of powered toothbrushes (PTBs) and interdental cleaning aids (IDAs) on a population level is unproven. We evaluated to what extent changes in PTB and IDA use may explain changes in periodontitis, caries, and tooth loss over the course of 17 y using data for adults (35 to 44 y) and seniors (65 to 74 y) from 3 independent cross-sectional surveys of the German Oral Health Studies (DMS). Oaxaca decomposition analyses assessed to what extent changes in mean probing depth (PD), number of caries-free surfaces, and number of teeth between 1) DMS III and DMS V and 2) DMS IV and DMS V could be explained by changes in PTB and IDA use. Between DMS III and V, PTB (adults: 33.5%; seniors: 28.5%) and IDA use (adults: 32.5%; seniors: 41.4%) increased along with an increase in mean PD, number of caries-free surfaces, and number of teeth. Among adults, IDA use contributed toward increased number of teeth between DMS III and V as well as DMS IV and V. In general, the estimates for adults were of lower magnitude. Among seniors between DMS III and V, PTB and IDA use explained a significant amount of explained change in the number of caries-free surfaces (1.72 and 5.80 out of 8.44, respectively) and the number of teeth (0.49 and 1.25 out of 2.19, respectively). Between DMS IV and V, PTB and IDA use contributed most of the explained change in caries-free surfaces (0.85 and 1.61 out of 2.72, respectively) and the number of teeth (0.25 and 0.46 out of 0.94, respectively) among seniors. In contrast to reported results from short-term clinical studies, in the long run, both PTB and IDA use contributed to increased number of caries-free healthy surfaces and teeth in both adults and seniors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A very popular method in the field of prevention, sports, and therapy is flossing, working with an elastic band. A number of effects have been reported with this approach, but there are so far only a few studies to objectivize the declared effects. The aim of our study was to determine the change in the blood supply to the musculus biceps brachii during and after the flossing method applied to the upper limb in the area of the shoulder joint. The study recruited 27 healthy respondents (23.3 ± 2.8 years old). Measurement of the blood flow was performed on a Précisé 8008 (Ulrichstein, Germany) a device for measuring transcutaneous oxygen (tcpO2) before, during the 2-min compression therapy applied in the area of the shoulder joint, and after. We noted that both upper limbs, the limb where the application was performed and the opposite limb reached significant changes in the blood flow in musculus biceps brachii. Due to the significant depression of perfusion after only 2 min of flossing, great caution is required when performing the flossing method. The "sponge effect," which means that after the occlusion is removed, the perfusion increases rapidly, was not confirmed by our study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare personal oral hygiene practices between first and final year dental students of Foundation University College of Dentistry (FUCD). Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Foundation University College of Dentistry, Islamabad, from Mar to May 2019. Methodology: A pre-structured questionnaire was distributed to students of first and final year BDS classes with questions related to seven basic oral hygiene practices. These included frequency of teeth cleaning, time spent in cleaning teeth, tools used for cleaning teeth, frequency of changing toothbrushes, use of secondary plaque control methods, whether or not students cleaned their tongue, and how often they visited a dentist. Results: Only 2 out of 7 practices, (i.e. more frequency of brushing, 45/52 (86.5% in final year vs 25/47 (53.1% in first year and usage of floss 22/52 (42.3%) in final year vs 9/47 (19.1%) in first year) were found to be significantly better in final year students when compared to first year BDS students with a p-value of 0.012 and 0.04 respectively. The remaining differences did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: When compared with first year BDS students, only 2 out of 7recommended oral hygiene practices were found to be better in final year students. Therefore, there is a need for greater emphasis on oral hygiene practices at undergraduate educational years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of using mobile text messages and a novel floss holder as compared to finger flossing or the novel floss holder alone, on the psychological, behavioral, and clinical parameters of patients with gingivitis. Methods: A total 165 adults were assessed for eligibility and 144 met the criteria for randomization into three groups: Finger Floss (FF, n=43), Novel Floss Holder (NFH, n= 40), and Novel Floss Holder plus Text Messages (NFH+TM, n= 61) following a dental hygiene consultation appointment. Gingival bleeding points were measured on probing (BOMP) at baseline and four months later by a calibrated dental hygienist, blinded to the experimental groups. Participants also self-reported their oral hygiene behaviors, and indicated psychological determinants of behavior change prior to the dental hygiene consultation and at four months. Descriptive statistics and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to compare groups over time. Results: Two subjects dropped out of the study making the total number of participants 142. At the four month follow-up, the NFH group and the NFH+TM groups demonstrated significantly higher levels of self-reported flossing, action self-efficacy, intention, action planning, and action control. The NFH+TM group showed lower levels of bleeding and higher levels of oral hygiene and recovery self-efficacy than the other groups, in addition to higher levels of maintenance self-efficacy as compared to the FF group. Conclusions: The use of a novel floss holder, NFH, was shown to improve the behavioral and psychological determinants of periodontal health four months after introduction of the device. However the clinical measures of BOMP only improved significantly when used in conjunction with text messages (NFH+TM). The use of a consciousness awareness technique, TMs, in combination with a novel device, may help patients to reach therapeutic objectives and contribute to the management of periodontal pathologies such as gingivitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper examines oral hygiene behaviours (tooth brushing, mouthwash use and dental floss) by a range of explanatory variables.Methods: Explanatory variables included age, sex, region, income, area-based SES, dental insurance and visiting pattern. The data reported were collected in the interview survey in NSAOH 2017-18.Results: A higher percentage of females brushed with toothpaste at least daily (98.0%) and used floss in the last week (62.6%) than males (94.6% and 48.5% respectively). There was an income gradient in tooth brushing. Higher percentages brushed in the high income (96.8%) than middle (96.2%) and low-income tertiles (93.6%). A higher percentage of the high-income tertile (58.2%) flossed than the lower tertile (53.3%). Those with unfavourable visit patterns had lower percentages who brushed daily (92.7%) than the intermediate (96.7%) or favourable (98.2%) groups. There was a gradient in flossing by visiting, with a lower percentage flossing for the unfavourable visiting group (38.5%) than for the intermediate (52.8%) or favourable groups (67.6%).Conclusions: Oral hygiene behaviours were associated with gender, socioeconomic status and dental visiting. A higher percentage of women brushed and flossed than men. Lower socioeconomic status and those with unfavourable visiting patterns had lower frequencies of brushing and flossing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated New Zealand dentists' oral self-care behaviour and delivery of advice to patients. A nationwide electronic survey was conducted with 700 general dentists randomly selected from the 2018 New Zealand Dental Register. The questionnaire sought information on dentists' demographic characteristics, oral self-care behaviours and delivery of oral health care advice. Most respondents (90%) brushed their teeth more than once daily, while substantial minorities flossed once a day (45%), used mouthwash occasionally (42%) and occasionally snacked between meals (38%). Most respondents (82%) had never smoked. Most (92%) reported using fluoridated toothpaste. More than half had had posterior bitewing radiographs taken (57%) and had had their most recent dental check-up within the previous year (60%) by visiting a colleague. Despite most NZ dentists having good oral self-care behaviours and giving sound oral hygiene advice to their patients, a small minority do not model sound oral health behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and create awareness among schoolchildren about oral hygiene. Materials and Methods: SA cross-sectional pilot study was conducted among 100 schoolchildren in the age group of 12–14 years; both male and female students (male = 53 and female = 47) were included in the study. A self-made questionnaire which had 20 questions to evaluate the knowledge about oral hygiene maintenance was formulated. The questionnaire was distributed to the children and the responses were collected and tabulated. Results: About 75% of the students brush twice daily. About 55% of the students use fluoridated toothpaste. Only 35% of the students used mouthwash and only 10% used floss. Around 60% of the students used tongue cleaner. Only 5% of the students brush after every meal and 93% gargle their mouth after a meal. About 78% of the children consider sweets to be a cause for dental caries and around 76% consider soft drinks harmful for the teeth. Around 81 students have noticed bleeding gums. 86% of the children considered that dental and general health go hand in hand. 95% of the children considered that dental visit is necessary, but only 73% had regular visits. About 98% of the students knew that bacterium is the cause of dental decay. Around 69% of the students did not visit the dentist because of fear and 31% did not visit the dentist because of the cost of treatment. Around 66% of the students changed their toothbrush once in 3 months and around 85% used a horizontal method of brushing. 66% of children had knowledge about special cements available for prevention of decay. Conclusion: The overall knowledge about oral hygiene among the children was moderate. More knowledge must be imparted about flossing, brushing techniques, and the preventive aids available for dental caries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A very popular method in the field of prevention, sports, and therapy is flossing, working with an elastic band. A number of effects have been reported with this approach, but there are so far only a few studies to objectivize the declared effects. The aim of our study was to determine the change in the blood supply to the musculus biceps brachii during and after the flossing method applied to the upper limb in the area of the shoulder joint. The study recruited 27 healthy respondents (23.3 ± 2.8 years old). Measurement of the blood flow was performed on a Précisé 8008 (Ulrichstein, Germany) a device for measuring transcutaneous oxygen (tcpO2) before, during the 2-min compression therapy applied in the area of the shoulder joint, and after. We noted that both upper limbs, the limb where the application was performed and the opposite limb reached significant changes in the blood flow in musculus biceps brachii. Due to the significant depression of perfusion after only 2 min of flossing, great caution is required when performing the flossing method. The “sponge effect,” which means that after the occlusion is removed, the perfusion increases rapidly, was not confirmed by our study.

Background: Mentally disabled children have been found to have poor oral hygiene, a greater prevalence of periodontal disease, and higher caries prevalence. Flossing is an important oral hygiene skill adjacent to toothbrushing in plaque removal than brushing alone in children. GumChucks is a novel flossing device designed to assist children with easy and proper flossing techniques. To compare the efficacy of the GumChucks flossing system and string floss (SF) for plaque removal in mentally disabled children., Materials and Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to either GumChucks or SF. At baseline, a toothbrushing and flossing demonstration was given to all the participants. Gingival index (GI) and plaque index (PI) were recorded at baseline, 1 week, and 4 weeks postusage., Results: Overall, there was a significant reduction in GI and PI after first use with children using GumChucks compared to SF floss. After 1 week and 4 weeks of postusage, children in the GumChucks group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in GI (1.03 ± 0.60), (1.12 ± 0.66), and PI (0.97 ± 0.53), (1.10 ± 0.54) from baseline p ≤ 0.05., Conclusion: GumChucks was an effective alternative plaque removal, with recommended caretakers' supervision for mentally disabled children., How to Cite This Article: Takle TV, Vishwakarma PY, Dodamani AS, et al. Comparative Assessment of the Efficacy of the GumChucks Flossing System and String Floss for Plaque Removal in Mentally Disabled Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(3):255-259., Competing Interests: Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: NoneConflict of interest: None, (Copyright © 2024; The Author(s).)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the knotted floss (KF) technique with respect to plaque biofilm accumulation, gingival inflammation, bleeding, trauma, and patient preference when used in Type I gingival embrasures, in a crossover-comparison with a conventional flossing (CF) technique. Methods: Thirty healthy, non-flossing adults with at least one Type I gingival embrasure participated in this two-treatmentphase, crossover study. Each subject was randomly assigned to perform either KF or CF technique in the first 6-weeks, and the comparative technique in the second 6-weeks, with a 2-week washout phase in-between. Test-sites were scored at baseline, 2-weeks, 4-weeks, and 6-weeks using the Rustogi Modification of Navy Plaque Index (RMNPI), Modified Gingival Index (MGI), Modified Papillary Bleeding Index (MPBI), and the Carter-Hanson et al., scoring method for gingival trauma. A 3-factor analysis of variance was performed on the data to rule out treatment sequencing as a significant factor. Data was analyzed for differences between groups at respective time points using the student t-test and the paired t-test was used for changes within groups over time (p ≤ 0.05). Results: Analysis of data showed a statistically significant improvement in RMNPI, MGI and MPBI scores within both flossing groups over the period of 6-weeks from baseline. The RMNPI scores were significantly less in the KF group at 2, 4, and 6 weeks when compared to the scores between the KF and CF treatment groups. No significant gingival trauma was recorded in either treatment group. Seventy-five percent of the subjects completing the study, chose KF when asked about their preferred flossing technique with respect to its ability to clean interdentally, while 71% chose KF as the flossing technique that they were willing to continue to use. Conclusion: KF is as effective and safe as an inter-dental oral hygiene technique for reducing plaque biofilm and gingival inflammation and bleeding, as compared to CF in Type I gingival embrasures, when both were used in conjunction with regular tooth-brushing. KF was shown to be better than CF in in terms of improved plaque biofilm scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mechanical plaque control methods such as brushing and flossing are highly recommended to remove dental plaque. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the sequence of brushing and flossing on reducing interdental plaque and increasing fluoride retention in that area.Methods: This randomized controlled crossover trial was conducted on 25 dental students. After prophylaxis, they were asked to discontinue all forms of oral hygiene for 48 hours. The study was performed in two phases with two-week washout intervals. In one phase, they first brushed, then flossed (sequence 1: brush-floss group). In the other phase they initially used dental floss then brushed (sequence 2: floss-brush group). At each phase, dental plaque (using the Rustogi Modified Navy Plaque Index) and fluoride concentrations (using a fluoride ion specific electrode) were measured before and after flossing and brushing, and the dental plaque reduction and fluoride increase were compared between the two groups using the mixed model test. A significance level of 5% was selected.Results: In the floss-brush group interdental and whole plaque was reduced significantly more than the brush-floss group (p = 0.001, p = 0.009 respectively). However, marginal plaque did not show any statistically significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.2). Fluoride concentrations in interdental plaque were significantly higher in the floss-brush group than the other group (p = 0.027).Conclusion: The results showed that flossing followed by brushing is preferred to brushing then flossing in order to reduce interdental plaque and increase fluoride concentration in interdental plaque. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extruded cement during dental implant crown cementation may cause peri-implant diseases if not removed adequately. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of removal of cement after cementation of implant crowns using an experimental circular crisscross flossing technique (CCFT) flossing technique, compared to the conventional "C"-shape flossing technique (CSFT). Twenty-four patients rendered 29 experimental and 29 control crowns. Prefabricated abutments were secured to the implant such that the margins were at least 1 mm subgingivally. The abutments were scanned using computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing technology and Emax crowns were fabricated in duplicates. Each crown was cemented individually and excess cement was removed using the CSFT and the CCFT techniques. After completion of cementation was completed, the screw access holes were accessed and the crown was unscrewed along with the abutment. The samples were disinfected using 70% ethanol for 10 minutes. Crowns were divided into 4 parts using a marker to facilitate measurement data collection. Vertical and horizontal measurements were made for extruded cement for each control and experimental groups by means of a digital microscope. One-hundred and seventeen measurements were made for each group. Mann-Whitney test was applied to verify statistical significance between the groups. The CCFT showed a highly statistically significant result (104.8 ± 13.66, P < .0001) for cement removal compared with the CSFT (291.8 ± 21.96, P < .0001). The vertical measurements of the extruded cement showed a median of 231.1 μm (IQR = 112.79-398.39) and 43.62 μm (IQR = 0-180.21) for the control and the experimental flossing techniques, respectively. The horizontal measurements of the extruded cement showed a median of 987.1 μm (IQR = 476.7-1,933.58) and 139.2 μm (IQR = 0-858.28) for the control and the experimental flossing techniques, respectively. The CCFT showed highly statistically significant less cement after implant crowns cementation when compared with the CSFT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance message impact, threat appeals often include disgusting imagery. Theorizing multi-emotion messages may benefit from juxtaposition of the argumentation and emotion literatures. Doing so yields a distinction between the thematic and supporting functions of emotion, which allows precise predictions concerning when and why emotions are persuasive. Two studies exposed participants to a message on flossing (N = 374) or meningitis vaccination (N = 290). Emotion data were gathered just before, during, and just after exposure. The results replicated across studies such that (a) the over-time fear curve predicted persuasion, whereas peak fear did not, and (b) the over-time disgust curve did not predict persuasion, whereas peak disgust did. The main ideas are synthesized in the argument structure model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macaques possess a repertoire of extractive foraging techniques that range from complex manipulation to tool-aided behaviors, to access food items that increase their foraging efficiency substantially. However, the complexity and composition of such techniques vary considerably between species and even between populations. In the present study, we report seven such complex manipulative behaviors that include six extractive foraging behaviors, and teeth flossing, in a population of Nicobar long-tailed macaques. The apparent purpose of these behaviors was an extraction of encased food, processing food, foraging hidden invertebrates, and dental flossing. Among these behaviors, three behaviors viz. wrapping, wiping, and teeth-flossing were tool-aided behaviors, where macaques used both natural and synthetic materials as tools. Occasionally macaques also modified those tools prior to their use. The substrate use patterns of leaf rubbing and teeth flossing were similar to that observed in other macaques. The spontaneous tool modification to perform wrapping was a first time observation. These observations suggest that Nicobar long-tailed macaques have a high level of sensorimotor intelligence which helps to evolve such innovative foraging solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of bleeding gums in association with oral health practices. Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional. Setting: Main Diagnostic Department NID, Multan, Pakistan. Materials and Methods: Period: 1st January 2017 to 31st March 2017. 1000 patients of either gender or age who came to main diagnostic department, NID, Multan, Pakistan for treatment purpose. A Questionnaire was designed. After getting consent, questions were asked and clinical examination was done to assess the frequency, accuracy of brushing technique, prevalence of calculus deposition and bleeding gums. Patients were asked about the devices they used for oral Hygiene practices. Result: Result showed that out of total sample 92.3% of patients were Brushing. 90% of them were using improper Brushing technique. 81.4% showed calculus deposits and 40.6% bleeding gums. Higher prevalence of bleeding gums and calculus deposits were in 26-30years old age groups and 21-25 years old individuals respectively. 92% of the patient with bleeding gums had associated calculus.98% of patients with bleeding gums had improper brushing technique.98% of the patients with calculus had improper brushing technique.1.2% of the patients were flossing. Conclusion: Improper brushing technique is the main factor for calculus deposits that is the leading cause for bleeding gums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Assess the association of flossing with periodontitis. Materials and Methods This was a cross-sectional study using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey ( NHANES) years 2011-2014. We used three categories of flossing: 0-1, 2-4 and ≥5 days in the past week and the CDC definition of periodontitis. We calculated odds ratios controlling for age, gender, smoking, drinking, income and dentist visits. Results A total of 6939 adult subjects were included, 35% flossed ≤1 time a week, and 40% had periodontitis. After adjustment, the odds of periodontitis were 17% lower for subjects who flossed >1 time a week than for subjects who flossed less often (odds ratio=0.83, 95% CI 0.72-0.97). A dose response was not observed. Men were twice as likely as women to have periodontitis. Younger subjects, non-smokers and subjects with the highest incomes had lower odds of having periodontitis. Conclusions Flossing was associated with a modestly lower prevalence of periodontitis. Older age, being male, smoking, low income and less frequent dental visits were associated with a higher prevalence of periodontitis. Flossing 2-4 days a week could be as beneficial as flossing more frequently. This is a cross-sectional study so a causal relation between flossing and periodontitis cannot be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodontal diseases are complex, multifactorial disorders. Effective daily plaque control promotes gingival/periodontal health. Recent meta-analyses and other reviews have found inconclusive evidence to support that tooth flossing promotes gingival/periodontal health. Ideally, the claim should have been that, “at present, we do not have high-quality evidence from well-designed randomized clinical trials to determine whether flossing lowers the risk for periodontal diseases.” Rather than “not proven to be effective,” the lay public may now think that flossing is “almost entirely unhelpful and/or unnecessary.” How does the dental community communicate the nuances of this topic? Herein, we examine the key structural issues underlying this area of research. We assert that effective flossing between specific teeth can promote gingival/periodontal health. Furthermore, we explore the nuances for whom this may be true and untrue, why our evidence is lacking, and what can be done to clarify the effectiveness of flossing on clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current evidence pertaining to the effectiveness of flossing and caries prevention is potentially being misinterpreted by health oversight bodies, which may have significant implications for current and future public flossing guidelines. We identify and discuss several methodological deficiencies, including the lack of validated measures of flossing skill, over-reliance on self-reported flossing behavior, and the lack of current guidelines on how to interpret and apply evidence-based findings to specific clinical scenarios that are present in the studies of flossing effectiveness included in the Cochrane Review. As such, we argue that it is premature for health oversight bodies to conclude that flossing is ineffective in the prevention of dental caries. Our research group, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is developing a valid and reliable provider-observed measure of tooth brushing and flossing skill that may help promote higher quality flossing evidence in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"nBackground: The goal of this study was to determine the application of health belief model in oral health education for 12-year-old children and its effect on oral health behaviors and indexes. "nMethods: A quasi- experimental study was carried out on twelve-year-old girl students (n-291) in the first grade of secon­dary school, in the central district of Tehran, Iran. Research sample was selected by a multistage cluster sampling. The data was obtained by using a valid reliable questionnaire for measuring the perceptions, a checklist for observing the quality of brush­ing and dental flossing and health files and clinical observation. First, a descriptive study was applied to individual percep­tions, oral behaviors, Oral Hygiene Index (OHI) and Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth Index (DMFTI). Then an educa­tional planning based on the results and Health Belief Model (HBM) was applied. The procedure was repeated after six months. "nResults: After education, based on HBM, all the oral health perceptions increased (P

Background: Daily toothbrushing and flossing are easy, effective and low-cost practices for removing the microbial dental plaque, which is an important factor in the development of caries and periodontal disease. Aim: The objective of this study is evaluation of oral health behaviors in a group of students from an Iranian university . Materials and Methods: This descriptive analytical cross-sectional study was carried out on 1736 Iranian students (1230 non-medical sciences students and 506 medical sciences students). Subjects were randomly selected. The students were asked to fill out a self-completion questionnaire about daily oral health behavior. Statistical Analysis Used: The chi-square test was used for evaluation of oral health behaviors and relationship between students′ oral hygiene behavior and educational levels. Results : There was no difference between the frequencies of tooth brushing in the students of two universities. Medical sciences students used dental floss more than non-medical sciences students, which was a significant difference ( P = 0.000). There was no significant difference in toothbrushing frequency among the students with different levels of education. But the students of doctorate and masters degrees used dental floss significantly more than those of bachelor or associate degrees ( P = 0.000). Conclusions: This study showed that the level of self oral care among Iranian students is at a lower level than in industrialized countries.

One of the earliest theories of threat appeals, the drive model, predicts that the fear-persuasion relationship is characterized by an inverted U-curve. Evidence of such a curve has proven elusive, probably because, in reality, there are two curvilinear hypotheses, not one. Existing primary studies and meta-analyses have tested the between-persons version of the inverted U-curve and found it wanting. In contrast, this study reports on a within-persons version and finds clear support for it. A peaked curve predicted change in intention to use dental floss, whereas a flatter curve did not. Partitioning the sample on individual differences in the behavioral inhibition system produced curves that did not differ in their ability to predict persuasion. Because no contemporary theory of threat appeals can predict these curvilinear findings, researchers should reconsider the utility of drive theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of a school-based child oral hygiene program on oral heath after approximately 10 years of follow-up. Methods A prospective cohort study was designed to include 120 schoolchildren aged 10-11 years with instructions on how to practice daily flossing and brushing under the supervision of school nurses for one semester (the intervention group) and to recruit a comparison group with no intervention from 120 classmates matched by gender (the nonintervention group). Both groups participated in a questionnaire survey and received dental examinations after long-term follow-up. Results The mean value of overall plaque score in the intervention group (16.9%) was lower than that of the nonintervention group (32.6%); the adjusted relative risk ( aRR) of having a plaque score for the intervention group versus the nonintervention group was 0.4 (95% CI: 0.3, 0.5). The percentage of pocketing ( CPI ≧ 2) in the intervention group (75.0%) was lower than that of the nonintervention group (90.8%); the aRR of having calculus or pocketing ( CPI ≧ 2) was 0.3 (95% CI: 0.1, 0.6). The intervention group had lower DMFT values and DMFS score than the nonintervention group (4.1 and 6.6 versus 6.2 and 11.0). Moreover, the intervention group had significantly better dental knowledge and habits and dental conditions than the nonintervention group. Conclusions This longitudinal follow-up study demonstrated that a highly targeted oral hygiene program can display positive long-term effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Periodontal disease is a significant public health issue worldwide. Motivational techniques in combination with financial incentives are shown to lead to effective behavior change. The current study sought to examine whether a brief oral health promotion program (self-management cues that were based on self-efficacy and self-regulatory skills) in combination with an incentive (free dental treatment) would make a difference in the adoption of regular dental flossing in a population of Indian periodontal disease outpatients. Methods: One hundred and twelve participants (n = 55 oral health promotion intervention group; n = 57 control group) were assigned to the intervention (self-management cues + incentive) or control groups, and follow-up assessments were performed three weeks later. Flossing frequency, behavioral intentions, and perceived self-efficacy served as dependent variables. Data were analyzed with mixed models, ANCOVAs, and path analyses. Results: The intervention yielded effects on flossing frequency (p < 0.01) and flossing intentions (p < 0.01) at follow-up. Women developed stronger intentions than men. Moreover, by path analysis a sequential mediation chain was found that demonstrated an indirect effect of the intervention on flossing via self-efficacy and intentions: the intervention predicted changes in self-efficacy which, in turn, were associated with changes in intentions, predicting flossing frequency at follow up, while controlling for baseline behavior, gender, and age. Conclusions: Combining incentives with minimal self-management cues has been found effective in improving interdental cleaning intentions and habits in periodontal disease patients, and the facilitating role of dental self-efficacy has been demonstrated. Keywords: Dental cleaning, Flossing, Motivation, Self-efficacy, Intention, Incentives [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Oral hygiene instruction performed by different personnel in various manners is a necessity for prevention and treatment of dental caries and periodontal diseases. Since dentists are the majority of personnel who deliver oral hygiene instruction to patients, this study was designed to evaluate dentists' attitude towards oral hygiene instruction in their private office in Yazd. Methods: A questionnaire including demographic information and various oral hygiene instruction methods was prepared and delivered to 151 dentists who were working in their private office in Yazd. Data were analyzed with SPSS 16 software and Fisher exact test was performed. Results: Results revealed that 95.3% of dentists gave oral hygiene instruction to their patients. This training included dental flossing techniques followed by tooth brushing. Therefore, using an oral model was the most common way of patient's instruction. Conclusion: Results obtained from this study showed that the majority of dentists in Yazd gave oral hygiene instruction to their patients through various methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]