title: The efficacy of oral irrigation in addition to a toothbrush on plaque and the clinical parameters of periodontal inflammation: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this review was to systematically review the literature on the adjunctive effect of oral irrigation in addition to toothbrushing on plaque and clinical parameters of periodontal inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Papers in the MEDLINE-PubMed and Cochrane Central register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases up to January 2008 were searched to identify appropriate studies. Clinical parameters of periodontal inflammation such as plaque, bleeding, gingivitis and pocket depth, were selected as outcome variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Independent screening of the titles and abstracts of 809 PubMed and 105 Cochrane papers resulted in seven publications that met the eligibility criteria. Mean values and standard deviations were collected by data extraction. Descriptive comparisons with brushing alone or regular oral hygiene are presented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As an adjunct to brushing, the oral irrigator does not have a beneficial effect in reducing visible plaque. However, there is a positive trend in favour of oral irrigation improving gingival health over regular oral hygiene or toothbrushing only.
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Hygiene, University of Applied Sciences, INHolland, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Husseini
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Slot
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Van der Weijden
mesh_terms: D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000517:prevention & control; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000295:instrumentation; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation*