title: Improvement of oral hygiene in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Programs in power toothbrushing, manual toothbrushing with conventional fluoride toothpaste and with a chlorhexidine/fluoride gel has been evaluated for plaque removal in an observer blind cross-over clinical trial on 14 rheumatoid arthritis patients. All three regimens lead to considerable improvement in oral hygiene. The use of an electric toothbrush was slightly more effective than a manual brush. Brushing with a chlorhexidine/fluoride gel gave the best results, but its clinical use is limited by unacceptable taste, discoloration and possibly adverse soft tissue effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology, Dental Faculty, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Risheim
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kjaerheim
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arneberg
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014075:Tooth Discoloration / Q000139:chemically induced; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014100:Toothpastes
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D014100:Toothpastes; D005459:Fluorides; D002710:Chlorhexidine