Plaque Control Efficacy: Interdental Brushes versus Dental Floss

Aims: In this study, we compared plaque control efficacy between interdental brushes & dental floss for the prevention of periodontal disease (gingivitis). We also investigated the convenient method for plaque control among these two interdental cleaning methods in routine.

Study Design: Randomized clinical trial

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Periodontology at Fatima Jinnah Dental College and Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan from Jan 2019 to July 2020.

Methodology: The sample size of 180 was calculated using OpenEpi software each group (Interdental brush & Dental floss) carried 90 patients respectively at 95% confidence interval and 80% power of the test. Probability sampling technique was used. The Clinical trial was registered at ClinicalTrial.gov (Identifier: NCT05439785). Ethical approval was taken from the Ethical Review Committee of Ziauddin University (1130519MSOM). SPSS version 20 was used to analyze the study data. P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered as significant.

Results: The statistical results showed significant improvement in the plaque score and bleeding index among patients pre and post intervention (p <0.001). Moreover, this study stated that interdental brush was slightly better in reducing interproximal plaque accumulation in patients of gingivitis (p <0.001). The symptom of bleeding from the gingival tissue was also improved by using both interdental cleaning methods. The posterior region appeared to be a difficult site to use both the intervention (interdental brushes or dental floss). Both interdental cleaning methods assisted in the improvement of other symptoms like sensitivity, halitosis, and food impaction in the patients.

Conclusion: The findings of our research revealed that both interdental cleaning methods had a statistically significant effect in removing interdental plaque, with little variation in plaque removal seen between interdental brush and dental floss when compared to baseline. This study endorses better outcome of interdental brush in reducing dental plaque accumulation than dental floss in the gingivitis patients.