EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS TOOTHBRUSHES ON GINGIVAL HEALTH IN CHILDREN

Purpose: Comparative evaluation of manual, electric, sonic and ultrasonic toothbrush effectiveness on children's gingival status. Material and methods: The study involved 106 children aged 11 to 13 years, divided into four groups according to the type of toothbrush used. A group based preventive program for motivation and training was developed for each type of toothbrush. The program was assessed over four visits, during which the gingival status was recorded at each visit using the Full Mouth Bleeding Score (FMBS) index with the aid of an electronic periodontal probe. Results: Values of bleeding on probing were reduced by half (baseline FMBS -26-29% to 14% at the end of study) at the end of the study in all study groups. Conclusion: The establishment of effective oral hygiene behaviors through comprehensive instruction in the appropriate use of various toothbrush modalities is fundamental to the maintenance of gingival health in children.