Efficacy of a new interdental cleaning aid

Status Quo in Mechanical Plaque Control Then and Now: A Review

There are various kinds of dental diseases, of which dental caries and disease of periodontal origin are the most common. A very strong connection has been proven between oral inflammation and general health of an individual. Dental Biofilm is the main cause for gingivitis and periodontitis. Dental plaque may also be referred to as microbial plaque that consists of highly organized structures of different microbiotas attached to the hard tooth structure, which may be bound by salivary glycoproteins. Plaque control is a term that refers to removal of already formed or the control of formation of this microbial biofilm. There have been various methods practiced for plaque control; they are broadly classified into mechanical methods and chemical plaque control methods. Mechanical plaque control further includes many other methods such as manual toothbrushes and smart toothbrushes, which includes power-driven toothbrushes, sonic and ultrasonic toothbrushes, solar-powered toothbrushes (ionic toothbrushes), disposable toothbrushes, and laser toothbrushes; this also includes interdental cleaning aids. Continuous advancements with the integration of technology have been made in the field of mechanical plaque control to improve its quality.

Oral Hygiene Practices and Knowledge among Adolescents Aged between 15 and 17 Years Old during Fixed Orthodontic Treatment: Multicentre Study Conducted in France

The aims of this study were to assess oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices among orthodontic patients between the ages of 15 and 17 years old compared to adolescents without orthodontic treatment. This cross-sectional study included 392 adolescents drawn from various French teaching hospitals. A closed-ended questionnaire was used to collect data. Adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment had a higher knowledge of oral health than adolescents without orthodontic treatment. The majority of adolescents for both groups (69%) claimed to brush their teeth twice a day. Regarding complimentary dental material, 81.9% of adolescents without orthodontic treatment never used an interdental brush and 78.8% never used dental floss. For those undergoing orthodontic treatment, 48.5% never used an interdental brush. Only 4% of adolescents without and 3% of adolescents with orthodontic treatment never consumed fizzy drinks, 4.9% and 3% never consumed sweets, and 4% and 8.4% never ate fast-food. Adolescents without treatment consumed more sodas (p = 0.048) and more fast food (p = 0.029). Adolescents had insufficient knowledge of oral health. Health education programmes should be implemented to improve adolescents’ knowledge and individual oral prophylaxis with interdental brushes.