[From the Cochrane Library: brushing the teeth with an electric toothbrush with an oscllating rotating movement more effective against plaque and gingivitis than brushing with a conventional toothbrush].
Removing dental plaque plays a key role in maintaining oral health and reducing gingivitis and parodontitis. A systematic Cochrane review ofrandomised controlled trials encompassing participants from the general public with uncompromised manual dexterity showed that when compared to the use of manual toothbrushes, the use of powered toothbrushes with a rotating oscillation action for a period of three months reduced gingivitis and (although not statistically significantly) plaque. The long-term clinical relevance of the differences is unclear. Electric toothbrushes that did not have an oscillating rotating movement were not consistently better than manual toothbrushes.
Hamerlynck
J V T
JV
Academisch Medisch Centrum/Universiteitvan Amsterdam, Dutch Cochrane Centre (J-1B-108), Postbus 22.660, 1100 DD Amsterdam. j.v.hamerlynck@amc.uva.nl
Middeldorp
S
S
Scholten
R J P M
RJ
D001331:Automation; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*