Which Oral Hygiene Tool is Powerful?

The study suggests interdental brushes and water picks work best to prevent gum disease, finds no extra power in powered toothbrushes, mouth rinses, and other oral hygiene practices.

The effectiveness of various oral hygiene devices is examined by new research led by the University at Buffalo. The findings of the research are published in the Journal of the International Academy of Periodontology.

The research aims to separate fact from fiction in determining which oral hygiene tools prevent gum disease.

Dental Care for Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers, Children
Initiating dental care at an early age can prevent tooth decay in children and also helps maintain overall oral health throughout life.

‘Only a handful of self-administered interventions provide additional protection against gum disease.’

Tooth brushing is the cornerstone of daily oral hygiene and is a reliable way to control dental plaque.

According to the research, interdental brushes and water pick performed better than other interdental oral hygiene devices at reducing gum disease. Both should be used in combination with daily tooth brushing.

Among the numerous mouth rinses examined, those based on chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX), cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), and essential oils (such as Listerine) were proven to be effective at reducing sticky deposits and gum disease.

Oral Care Tips for Aging Teeth
Good oral hygiene habits should be maintained as you age so as to prevent oral health problems and to have a healthy smile that looks great even during old age.

Though toothpicks are not effective in controlling gum disease, they can be useful for monitoring gum health by detecting signs of gum disease.

Triclosan toothpaste and mouth rinses can reduce gum disease but the compound is linked to the development of various types of cancers and reproductive defects. Triclosan has been removed from most popular toothpastes in the U.S.

Toothpaste: A Necessity of Daily Life
Toothpaste is a key part of the oral hygiene routine that helps to remove food debris and plaque from teeth and gums. Depending on the ingredients, they can also add other benefits.

Researchers also found that electric-powered toothbrushes are no more effective at reducing plaque and gum disease than a basic toothbrush.

Little evidence has been published in support of dental floss reducing plaque and gum disease. Though floss is especially useful to remove sticky deposits present in tight space between their teeth, both floss and brushing are essential.

Toothache | Dental pain |Tooth pain
A toothache is a pain in or around a tooth that occurs due to various reasons that irritate the nerve supplied to tooth. Though Toothache is not life-threatening, it can get worse if left untreated.

Researchers found insufficient evidence that mouthwashes based on tea tree oil, green tea, anti-inflammatory agents, hydrogen peroxide, sodium benzoate, stannous fluoride, hexetidine, or delmopinol reduced gum disease.

Researchers also found little evidence that supports the claim that dietary supplements improve gum health and professional plaque removal (known as scaling, the process of removing plaque with a scraper) prevents gum disease.

“Patients can be confident that the oral care tools and practices supported by research, as described in the paper, will prevent the initiation and progression of periodontal disease if they are performed regularly and properly”, says Scannapieco, principal investigator and chair and professor of oral biology in the UB School of Dental Medicine.

These findings will help dental practitioners and the public identify best practices for preventing gum disease, which affects nearly half of adults 30 and older in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Source-Medindia