Dry brushing: Does it improve plaque removal? A secondary analysis

Abstract

Objective: This article is a secondary analysis comparing the effects on plaque removal of brushing with a dry toothbrush and brushing with a prewetted toothbrush.

Methods: The participants had been included in two previous experiments involving single-brushing exercises. The 46 non-dental participants were systemically healthy and ≥18 years of age. In the first experiment, the control intervention was brushing with a prewetted toothbrush, while during the second experiment it was brushing with a dry toothbrush. Both experiments scored plaque before and after the brushing exercises and assessed participants' perception. The data of these two previous experiments were compared in this secondary analysis.

Results: Plaque score reduction following brushing with a dry toothbrush was 58%, while with a prewetted toothbrush, it was 57%. The mean plaque index score reduction of 0.08 between a dry and a prewetted toothbrush was not significant (P = .096). Prewetting the participants' toothbrush had no influence on the perception of toothbrush filament stiffness (P = .410) nor on the perception of cleaning capability (P = .449). In both experiments, brushing without dentifrice was judged to be unpleasant.

Conclusion: On average, following a 2-minute brushing exercise, plaque scored were reduced by 57% or more. Dry brushing did not contribute significantly to toothbrush efficacy. The participants did not find that prewetting a toothbrush influenced the cleaning capability and filament stiffness.

Keywords: dental plaque; dry toothbrush; manual toothbrush; prewetted toothbrush; secondary analysis.