Effectiveness of a sonic-flosser toothbrush with different size brush heads and manual toothbrush plus dental floss on plaque, gingival bleeding and inflammation in adults with naturally occurring gingivitis: A 4-week randomized controlled trial

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of three oral hygiene groups: a novel sonic-flosser toothbrush with a compact brush head, a novel sonic-flosser toothbrush with a full size brush head and manual toothbrush plus dental floss on the reduction of gingival bleeding after 4 weeks. Secondarily, the groups were compared on the reduction of gingival inflammation and dental plaque. Materials and Methods: One hundred and five (n = 105) healthy adults were enrolled in this randomized, examiner-blind, three-group, parallel clinical trial. Subjects were assigned to one of three groups: sonic-flosser toothbrush with full size brush head (SFF), sonic-flosser toothbrush with compact brush head (SFC), or manual toothbrush and string floss (MTF). Bleeding on probing (BOP), Modified Gingival Index (MGI), and Rustogi Modification of the Navy Plaque Index (RMNPI) scores were recorded at baseline, 2-weeks, and 4-weeks. Results: All subjects completed the study. All three groups demonstrated a significant reduction in BOP, MGI and RMNPI from baseline to 4-weeks for all areas recorded (p < 0.001), except gingival margin plaque scores for SFF, SFC and MTF (p = 0.203, p = 0.082, p = 0.324 respectively). Both the SFF and SFC groups were statistically more effective than MTF for whole mouth BOP, MGI and RMNPI (p < 0.001) and proximal areas (p = 0.022 or less). There were no adverse events reported by the subjects or identified by the examiner during the study. Conclusion: The sonic-flosser toothbrush with a full size or compact brush head was statistically and clinically more effective at improving gingival health and reducing plaque than manual toothbrush and dental floss for adults with naturally occurring gingivitis over 4-weeks.