Efficacy of chewable brush compared to manual brush in school going children of age group 10–12 years

Abstract

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.

Keywords

• children
• dental plaque
• disclosing agents
• salivary ph
• toothbrush