Journal of Indian Association of Public Health Dentistry

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2019  |  Volume : 17  |  Issue : 4  |  Page : 279--282

Efficacy of dental floss as an adjunct to toothbrushing in dental plaque and gingivitis: An open-labeled clinical nonexperimental study


Shrikanth Muralidharan1, Arunkumar Acharya2, Pramila Mallaiah3, Shanthi Margabandhu4, Sakharam Garale5, Mayur Giri6,  
1 Department of Public Health Dentistry, M.A. Rangoonwala College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India
2 Department of Public Health Dentistry, Navodaya Dental College and Hospital, Raichur, Karnataka, India
3 Department of Public Health Dentistry, M.R. Ambedkar Dental College, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
4 Public Health Dentist and Private Practioner, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
5 Director, Renovare, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
6 MUHS Regional Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Correspondence Address:
Prof. Arunkumar Acharya
Department of Public Health Dentistry, Navodaya Dental College and Hospital, Raichur, Karnataka
India

Abstract

Background: Periodontitis presents itself in the form of gingivitis or periodontal pockets/periodontitis. Gingivitis always precedes the later, but the reverse may not be true. Dental plaque is the primary etiology for chronic gingivitis. Hence, a regular cleaning is necessary especially in the interdental areas for the removal of plaque and to prevent gingivitis and periodontitis by means apart from the regular brushing. The most common and affordable ways of achieving this are through the use of dental floss. Aim: The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of flossing with a waxed dental floss apart from toothbrushing as an effective means to reduce gingival inflammation. Materials and Methods: The study was an open-labeled nonexperimental clinical study. A total of 60 adult patients between 20 and 50 years were selected and randomly assigned to 2 groups – one Group A with only manual toothbrushing (Oral B) and the Group B with manual toothbrushing (Oral B) and flossing with an unwaxed dental floss (Colgate). Both the groups were evaluated at baseline, after 14 days and after 28 days. Gingival index was recorded using the Loe and Sillness index while the gingival bleeding was scored using the Carter and Barnes Bleeding Index. The data collected were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS 20.0 (Chicago, IL, USA). Student's “t”-test was carried out. All P < 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Results: There was a statistically significant reduction in the gingivitis, bleeding, and plaque accumulation in the Group B compared to Group A, at baseline and after 28 days of evaluation (P < 0.001). There was no significant reduction in the bleeding index for the lingual surfaces between the two groups. The results thus showed that there was a significant reduction in the plaque accumulation and gingival bleeding for Group B compared to Group A. Conclusion: Regular toothbrushing helped to improve the gingival health and reduce the amount of plaque accumulation. Toothbrushing and flossing served better in achieving interdental plaque control and in reducing gingival bleeding.



How to cite this article:
Muralidharan S, Acharya A, Mallaiah P, Margabandhu S, Garale S, Giri M. Efficacy of dental floss as an adjunct to toothbrushing in dental plaque and gingivitis: An open-labeled clinical nonexperimental study.J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent 2019;17:279-282


How to cite this URL:
Muralidharan S, Acharya A, Mallaiah P, Margabandhu S, Garale S, Giri M. Efficacy of dental floss as an adjunct to toothbrushing in dental plaque and gingivitis: An open-labeled clinical nonexperimental study. J Indian Assoc Public Health Dent [serial online] 2019 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];17:279-282
Available from: https://journals.lww.com/aphd/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?2019/17/4/279/272788


Full Text



 Introduction



Periodontal disease is a major public health problem, characterized by irreversible tooth loss, increase risk of adverse systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease and preterm birth.[1],[2] Periodontitis presents itself in the form of gingivitis or periodontal pockets/periodontitis. Gingivitis always precedes the later, but the reverse may not be true. Furthermore, gingivitis does not progress to periodontitis [3] which could be a major contributing factor of neglect by the patients. Authors have suggested that bacterial infection medicated by host response is the main etiology behind gingival and periodontal tissue inflammation. Daily removal of plaque can thus help to prevent the disease, though not completely.[4],[5] The daily use of oral irrigation has shown to reduce gingivitis and microbial growth [6] but its economic feasibility in low socio-economic setup is questionable. Dental plaque is the primary etiology for chronic gingivitis that may develop within 10–21 days in the absence of total plaque control.[6] Approximately 50% of the population over the age of 30 years has some form of gingivitis. Although mechanical plaque control can be an effective strategy for preventing the progression of periodontal diseases, most individuals do not adequately brush their teeth, and only 11%–51% of the population admits to using dental floss or some type of interdental cleaning device on a daily basis.[7] The complete plaque control not only demands a very high motivation level but also needs to be supplemented with a good amount of manual dexterity and sticking to the oral hygiene regime recommended by the dentist. It is not only the hard tissue that serve as a platform for the plaque formation but also the oral mucosa and the tongue that are colonized by the plaque. The soft tissues in fact serve as a potent reservoir of bacteria that can recolonize in future on the teeth surfaces.[6],[7] Gingivitis and periodontitis are among one of the most prevalent infections affecting the oral cavity, making it essential for dental professionals to encompass risk assessment and disease management for their patients to insure a healthier outcome.[8] Hence a regular cleaning is necessary, especially in the interdental areas for removal of plaque and to prevent gingivitis and periodontitis by means apart from the regular brushing. The most common and affordable ways of achieving this is through the use of dental floss. Although other interdental aids have been developed, flossing still remains a popular and affordable means for most of the population. The present study was thus carried out to evaluate the effect of flossing with an unwaxed dental floss apart from toothbrushing as an effective means to reduce gingival inflammation.

 Materials and Methods



Ethical clearance was obtained at the start of the study from the Ethical Committee of Azam Campus on 27/12/2017 (ethical approval letter no. NDC/IEC/271217/GINGIVITIS). The study was an open-labeled nonexperimental clinical study. A total of 60 adult patients between 20 and 50 years were selected from those reporting to the institution from January to March 2018; randomly assigned by lottery method to two groups – one Group A with only manual toothbrushing (Oral B) and the Group B with manual toothbrushing (Oral B) and flossing with an unwaxed dental floss (Colgate). The participants were free of any known systemic illness or substance abuse. A written informed consent was obtained from all the participants before the start of the study. All the participants were provided the same type of toothbrushes (soft bristle and flat surface) and the dental floss was also supplied to the Group B participants. The study was carried out for 28 days. The Group A participants were asked to brush twice daily using manual toothbrushing. Group B participants were instructed to use the unwaxed dental floss every night before bed, apart from brushing twice. The correct method of using the dental floss, i.e., wrapping the floss of 18 inches around the middle fingers, use of the index finger along with the thumb to guide the floss in an up and down movements in between the teeth was demonstrated to the patients, they were asked to perform it in front of the examiner and also were provided with a video of the same procedure. Every evening a reminder was given to the participants of Group B to floss after brushing. Both the groups were evaluated by a calibrated examiner at baseline, after 14 days ( first follow-up) and after 28 days (second follow-up). The gingival index was recorded using the Loe and Sillness index [9] while the gingival bleeding was scored using the Carter and Barnes Bleeding Index.[10] The proximal/interdental plaque accumulation was recorded using the marginal/proximal plaque index.[11] The data collected were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS, IBM Analytics, New York, USA version 22.0. A paired t-test was carried out to compare the data at baseline, 14 days, and 28 days; and all the P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

 Results



The overall mean and the standard deviation of the two groups at baseline, 14 days, and 28 days of evaluation are shown in [Table 1]. There was a statistically significant reduction in the gingivitis, bleeding, and plaque accumulation in the Group B compared to Group A, at baseline and after 28 days of evaluation (P < 0.001). The percentage reduction in the bleeding index on the facial surface was greater in Group B (62.2) than Group A (42.3) at 14 days (P = 0.049). At 28 days, the Group B percentage reduction (60.2) was also significantly greater than that for Group A (40.6) at P = 0.0024. There was no significant reduction in the bleeding index for the lingual surfaces between the two groups. The percentage reduction in the gingival index for the two groups is shown in [Table 2]. After 21 days, the mean reduction in the plaque score for Group B was 8.1; which was significantly lesser than that of Group B (12.4) (P = 0.0109). The results thus showed that there was a significant reduction in the plaque accumulation and gingival bleeding for Group B compared to Group A.{Table 1}{Table 2}

 Discussion



The concept of interdental cleansing with a filamentous material was introduced for the first time by Parmly in 1819.[12] It was a tool, along with a dentifrice and toothbrush, and served as a measure for preventing dental disease. Unwaxed silk floss was first produced in 1882 by Codman and Shurtleff, but Johnson and Johnson made silk floss widely available from 1887 as a by-product of sterile silk, which was leftover from the manufacturers of sterile sutures.[13] Since dental floss is able to remove some interproximal plaque,[14],[15] it is assumed that frequent flossing will reduce the risk of interproximal caries and periodontal disease.[16] It is recommended that daily toothbrushing should be accompanied with dental flossing for the prevention of caries and periodontal diseases.[14],[17] However, the patient compliance with daily dental flossing is extremely low.[18] Patients attribute their lack of dental flossing compliance to lack of motivation and difficulties using the floss. A study of young cohort from 15 years of age, reported that significantly higher percentage of females believed that using dental floss was important than their male counterparts. However, even those who do floss are often not using the proper flossing technique, for example, they quickly pass the floss through the contact points and fail to sufficiently de-plaque the interdental surfaces.[19] It is a fact that interproximal cleansing is essential for the control of gingival and periodontal disease. A lot of people find it difficult to achieve plaque control, especially in the interproximal areas, with a traditional dental floss. Lang and Ronis [20] stated that only about 305 of the adults use dental floss as a cleansing aid and among them 22% of the people know the correct way of using the same. Another study stated that people prefer other alternatives over dental floss mainly due to the ease of utilization.[21] In the present study, we observed that the addition of dental floss to manual toothbrushing provides significant benefits to oral health through greater reductions in bleeding and gingivitis over only brushing, notably with a significant increase in the percentage reduction in bleeding in Group B compared to Group A. Thus, flossing can serve as an adjunct to toothbrushing and in turn prevent the occurrence of gingivitis. In a study by Hague et al.,[22] the reduction in the mean gingival score was 0.13, which was lower than our study findings [Table 1]. Schiff reported a reduction in the gingival bleeding by 0.2 at 3 months and 0.09 at 6 months after utilization of automated floss.[23] Since we used the manual flossing technique, a direct comparison between the two studies cannot be made. Jared 2005 reported of reduction in the plaque scores after the utilization of floss post 1 month along with toothbrushing, but the difference was not significant which is in contrast to the present study findings. Bauroth et al. in 2003, reported of plaque score of 2.46 (0.55) for floss group compared to only brushing group; 2.57 (0.48).[24] They found a significant reduction on subsequent follow-up, similar to the findings of our study. Schiff, in 2006, reported that the mean of plaque score was higher in the control group (1.49) compared to the flossing group (1.47), but the difference was not statistically significant.[23] Sharma et al. 2002, reported that there was a better reduction of the mean plaque scores with brushing and flossing than brushing alone (2.48 and 2.52, respectively).[25] Rosema et al. in 2008, reported that there was no difference between the plaque reduction scores after 3 months of follow-up with usage of floss.[26] Since we followed the patients only for 28 days, a direct comparison with the study findings cannot be made. A systematic review by Berchier et al. reported that no clinical evidence was present as to recommend the regular use of floss and in its ability to reduce interdental plaque accumulation. The authors suggest that the recommendation is purely based on the clinician's judgment.[27] The reduction in the plaque accumulation that was observed could be attributed to novelty and Hawthorne effect. The Hawthorne effect is a reaction of subjects to the realization they are in a study and are being observed otherwise known as potential patient reporting bias.[28] The novelty effect and Hawthorne effect can be considered as certain placebo effects. The impact of a placebo effect should not be underestimated.[29] Feil et al. intentionally used the Hawthorne effect and showed improvement in oral health.[30] The novelty effect is something that could have influenced participants even in this group. The results of the present study add to the existing data and clearly show a reduction in plaque and gingival inflammation from using an unwaxed dental floss. Further studies on a larger scale and for a longer duration need to be carried out for more clinical significance.

 Conclusion



Regular toothbrushing helped to improve the gingival health and reduce the amount of plaque accumulationToothbrushing and flossing served better in achieving interdental plaque control and in reducing gingival bleedingRegular flossing, if the patient is trained appropriately, can minimize the amount of gingival bleeding and also reduce the risk of periodontitis arising due to plaque accumulation.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

References

1Petersen PE, Bourgeois D, Ogawa H, Estupinan-Day S, Ndiaye C. The global burden of oral diseases and risks to oral health. Bull World Health Organ 2005;83:661-9.
2Li X, Kolltveit KM, Tronstad L, Olsen I. Systemic diseases caused by oral infection. Clin Microbiol Rev 2000;13:547-58.
3Schätzle M, Löe H, Bürgin W, Anerud A, Boysen H, Lang NP. Clinical course of chronic periodontitis. I. Role of gingivitis. J Clin Periodontol 2003;30:887-901.
4Page RC, Kornman KS. The pathogenesis of human periodontitis: An introduction. Periodontol 2000 1997;14:9-11.
5Chaves ES, Kornman KS, Manwell MA, Jones AA, Newbold DA, Wood RC. Mechanism of irrigation effects on gingivitis. J Periodontol 1994;65:1016-21.
6Osso D, Kanani N. Antiseptic mouth rinses: An update on comparative effectiveness, risks and recommendations. J Dent Hyg 2013;87:10-8.
7Barnett ML. The rationale for the daily use of an antimicrobial mouthrinse. J Am Dent Assoc 2006;137 Suppl: 16S-21S.
8Lamster IB. Antimicrobial mouthrinses and the management of periodontal diseases. Introduction to the supplement. J Am Dent Assoc 2006;137 Suppl: 5S-9S.
9Loe H, Silness J. Periodontal disease in pregnancy. i. prevalence and severity. Acta Odontol Scand 1963;21:533-51.
10Carter HG, Barnes GP. The gingival bleeding index. J Periodontol 1974;45:801-5.
11Benson BJ, Henyon G, Grossman E, Mankodi S, Sharma NC. Development and verification of the proximal/marginal plaque index. J Clin Dent 1993;4:14-20.
12Parmly LS. A Practical Guide to the Management of the Teeth; Comprising a Discovery of the Origin of Caries, or Decay of the Teeth, with its Prevention and Cure. Philadelphia: Collins & Crof; 1819.
13Johnson J. Our History, Transformational Ideas, Dental Floss. Available from: http://www.jnj.com/connect/aboutjnj/company-history/ healthcare-innovations/. [Last assessed on 2019 Jan 12].
14Asadoorian J, Locker D. The impact of quality assurance programming: A comparison of two Canadian dental hygienist programs. J Dent Educ 2006;70:965-71.
15Waerhaug J. Healing of the dento-epithelial junction following the use of dental floss. J Clin Periodontol 1981;8:144-50.
16Hujoel PP, Cunha-Cruz J, Banting DW, Loesche WJ. Dental flossing and interproximal caries: A systematic review. J Dent Res 2006;85:298-305.
17Brothwell DJ, Jutai DK, Hawkins RJ. An update of mechanical oral hygiene practices: Evidence-based recommendations for disease prevention. J Can Dent Assoc 1998;64:295-306.
18Schüz B, Wiedemann AU, Mallach N, Scholz U. Effects of a short behavioural intervention for dental flossing: Randomized-controlled trial on planning when, where and how. J Clin Periodontol 2009;36:498-505.
19Broadbent JM, Thomson WM, Poulton R. Oral health beliefs in adolescence and oral health in young adulthood. J Dent Res 2006;85:339-43.
20Lang WP, Ronis DL, Farghaly MM. Preventive behaviors as correlates of periodontal health status. J Public Health Dent 1995;55:10-7.
21Christou V, Timmerman MF, Van der Velden U, Van der Weijden FA. Comparison of different approaches of interdental oral hygiene: Interdental brushes versus dental floss. J Periodontol 1998;69:759-64.
22Hague AL, Carr MP, Rashid RG. Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of an automated flossing device: A randomized controlled trial. J Clin Dent 2007;18:45-8.
23Schiff T, Proskin HM, Zhang YP, Petrone M, DeVizio W. A clinical investigation of the efficacy of three different treatment regimens for the control of plaque and gingivitis. J Clin Dent 2006;17:138-44.
24Bauroth K, Charles CH, Mankodi SM, Simmons K, Zhao Q, Kumar LD. The efficacy of an essential oil antiseptic mouthrinse vs. dental floss in controlling interproximal gingivitis: A comparative study. J Am Dent Assoc 2003;134:359-65.
25Sharma NC, Charles CH, Qaqish JG, Galustians HJ, Zhao Q, Kumar LD. Comparative effectiveness of an essential oil mouthrinse and dental floss in controlling interproximal gingivitis and plaque. Am J Dent 2002;15:351-5.
26Rosema NA, Timmerman MF, Versteeg PA, van Palenstein Helderman WH, Van der Velden U, Van der Weijden GA. Comparison of the use of different modes of mechanical oral hygiene in prevention of plaque and gingivitis. J Periodontol 2008;79:1386-94.
27Berchier CE, Slot DE, Haps S, Van der Weijden GA. The efficacy of dental floss in addition to a toothbrush on plaque and parameters of gingival inflammation: A systematic review. Int J Dent Hyg 2008;6:265-79.
28Adair JG. The Hawthorne effect: A reconsideration of the methodological arti-fact. J App Psychol 1984;69:334-45.
29Finniss DG, Kaptchuk TJ, Miller F, Benedetti F. Biological, clinical, and ethical advances of placebo effects. Lancet 2010;375:686-95.
30Feil PH, Grauer JS, Gadbury-Amyot CC, Kula K, McCunniff MD. Intentional use of the Hawthorne effect to improve oral hygiene compliance in orthodontic patients. J Dent Educ 2002;66:1129-35.