Efficiency of Chewable Toothbrush in Improving Oral Hygiene of Institutionalized Visually Impaired Children in DK District, Karnataka: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background:A key element of general health, especially for children, is maintaining good oral hygiene.Visually impaired children, who are often institutionalized, may encounter additional challenges in maintaining good oral hygiene.Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a chewable toothbrush in improving oral hygiene among institutionalized visually impaired children in Dakshina Kannada (DK) district, Karnataka.Materials and methods: Thirty-two children aged between 8 and 12 years participated in the randomized controlled study.They were divided into two groups: one for manual toothbrushes and the other for chewable toothbrushes.The primary outcome was to assess the change in the oral hygiene index (OHI) and plaque index (PI) scores over 7 days.The secondary outcome was to evaluate the reduction in salivary Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) count for 7 days.The indices and salivary S. mutans count were evaluated after a washout period of 7 days.Results: When compared to the manual toothbrush group, the chewable toothbrush group showed a substantial decrease in salivary S. mutans and PI values. Conclusion:This study highlights the potential benefits of using chewable toothbrushes in improving oral hygiene among institutionalized visually impaired children.They can be an effective tool in promoting good oral hygiene practices among this vulnerable population.