Dental News - New evidence confirms long-term benefits of electric toothbrush use

Search Dental Tribune

New evidence confirms long-term benefits of electric toothbrush use

Research shows using an electric toothbrush helps prevent tooth loss. (Photograph: Nataly Studio/Shutterstock)
Oral-B

Oral-B

Mon. 10. June 2019

save

SCHWALBACH, Germany/GREIFSWALD, Germany: A new study has shown that the long-term use of an electric toothbrush slows progression of periodontal disease and helps to prevent tooth loss. As indicated by an 11-year observational study, electric toothbrush users demonstrate 20 per cent less tooth loss than manual toothbrush users do. For one market leader in electric toothbrushes worldwide, Oral-B, the results confirm the company’s efforts to improve periodontal health by plaque removal.

Using data on 2,819 subjects from the Study of Health in Pomerania and the type of toothbrush as exposure variable, periodontal status, caries and tooth loss were analysed by researchers from the University of Greifswald in Germany. Overall, the study found that the use of power toothbrushes improves periodontal health by plaque removal, resulting in reduced pocket depth and clinical attachment loss. Subsequently, those users were found to have 20 per cent more teeth present than manual toothbrush users. Thus, the researchers concluded that widespread usage of powered toothbrushes can be recommended.

Besides the oral health benefits of power toothbrushes, their rising popularity is also indicated by the findings. At the start of the 11-year study, 18 per cent of the participants used an electric toothbrush. Towards the end, the figure had risen to 37 per cent. This trend is supported by the fact that the power brush market grew by 6 per cent from 2012 to 2016.

Dr Anja Carina Borer, Head of Professional and Scientific Relations for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Oral-B, said in a statement: “We are very happy that our efforts to promote electric toothbrushing as a way to improve oral and especially gum health are now also scientifically supported in the long term. It proves what over 150 clinical studies have already indicated and will further drive the trend among patients to choose superior electric toothbrushes with oscillating-rotating technology.”

As the market leader in this segment, Oral-B links the positive results to its proven oscillating-rotating technology. Its effectiveness stems from movements in 3-D and a small, round brush head. This makes it possible to remove up to 100 per cent more plaque in even hard-to-reach areas. For the third time, its superiority over manual toothbrushes was confirmed by the renowned Cochrane organization—an international, independent institute which reviewed 51 clinical studies with 4,624 participants. The results confirmed that oscillating-rotating electric toothbrushes reduce plaque more effectively, improving oral and especially gingival health demonstrably, both in the short and in the long term, compared with manual toothbrushes.

The study, titled “Long-term impact of powered toothbrush on oral health: 11-year cohort study”, was published online on 22 May 2019 in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, ahead of inclusion in an issue.

Tags:
To post a reply please login or register
advertisement
advertisement