Elsevier

Dental Abstracts

Volume 59, Issue 4, July–August 2014, Page e97
Dental Abstracts

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When to change toothbrushes

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.denabs.2014.03.054Get rights and content

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Background

Manual toothbrushes have been used for nearly 1000 years but have changed significantly. Today's brushes tend to have ergonomically shaped and curved handles, and the head shape, filament shape, and filament insertion method are quite different from those of the 1930s brushes whose designs are the most direct forerunners. It is recommended that subjects change their toothbrushes about every 3 to 4 months or when the bristles become frayed. However, the effective life of a toothbrush will vary

Methods

Four brushing modalities were randomly assigned to the four quadrants of the mouths of 45 volunteers, with brushing performed using a professional brushing model. Three-month-old used toothbrushes with and without dentifrice and new toothbrushes with and without dentifrice were used in the four protocols. Plaque scores were obtained before and after brushing, and gingival abrasion (GA) scores were noted. In addition, the 3-month-old brushes were evaluated for wear.

Results

The prebrushing plaque scores were not significantly different, but all brushing procedures reduced plaque scores significantly. The old brushes showed the least and the new brushes the greatest reductions in plaque scores. Old brushes removed significantly less plaque compared to the new brushes with or without the use of dentifrice. The percentage of plaque score reductions differed significantly, with 31% for old brushes plus dentifrice, 34% for old brushes without dentifrice, 37% for new

Discussion

Worn toothbrushes are unable to remove plaque effectively, but the exact time when a toothbrush should be replaced is hard to pin down. Variation in brushing technique and skill will affect the effectiveness of the toothbrush with respect to gingival abrasion and plaque removal.

Clinical Significance

The difference in plaque removal efficacy and relative potential of causing gingival abrasion were not clinically relevant between the new and used toothbrushes. However, it is clear that a manual

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Rosema NAM, Hennequin-Hoenderdos NL, Versteeg PA, et al: Plaque-removing efficacy of new and used manual toothbrushes—a professional brushing study. Int J Dent Hygiene 11:237-243, 2013

Reprints available for NAM Rosema, Dept of Periodontology, Academic Ctr for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Univ of Amsterdam and VU Univ, Amsterdam, Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004, 1081 LA Amsterdam, The Netherlands; e-mail: [email protected]

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