Interproximal plaque mass and fluoride retention after brushing and flossing--a comparative study of powered toothbrushing, manual toothbrushing and flossing.

Purpose: To determine differences in interproximal plaque mass and fluoride retention with different modes of toothbrushing and flossing.

Materials And Methods: Forty-seven subjects in good health used four treatments in a four-period, randomized, crossover design: 1) manual brushing only; 2) manual brushing and daily flossing; 3) electric brushing using a rotational oscillation toothbrush; and 4) electric brushing using a sonic toothbrush. Subjects used a standard sodium fluoride dentifrice during the eight-day experimental periods and a fluoride-free dentifrice during the seven-day washout periods between treatments.

A novel oral hygiene system through integration of a sonic toothbrush and liquid toothpaste.

A novel system for home oral hygiene, the IntelliClean System from Sonicare and Crest is an integrated sonic toothbrush and liquid-toothpaste dispensing system. New research has established the ability of this system to reduce plaque, especially in interproximal regions, and to reduce gingivitis. The unique capability for the user to reapply liquid toothpaste during brushing (ie, re-dose) allows for a greater reduction in bacteria in the sulcus and an enhanced in-use experience that leads to improved compliance with brushing instruction, specifically longer brushing times.

Dental plaque as a biofilm and new research on biofilm removal by power toothbrushes.

Dental researchers have only recently begun to regard dental plaque as a biofilm. Dental plaque biofilm is a complex, heterogeneous structure of bacteria cells, a sticky extracellular matrix, and fluid channels. The biofilm must be modeled accurately for laboratory studies to be meaningful.