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Comparative Effectiveness of Flossing and Brushing in Reducing Interproximal Bleeding
Author(s) -
Graves Richard C.,
Disney Judith A.,
Stamm John W.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.036
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1943-3670
pISSN - 0022-3492
DOI - 10.1902/jop.1989.60.5.243
Subject(s) - interdental consonant , medicine , dental floss , dentistry , bleeding on probing , gingival inflammation , dental prophylaxis , orthodontics , gingivitis , oral hygiene , periodontitis
T his study assesses the comparative effectiveness of three types of dental floss and toothbrushing in reducing interproximal bleeding sites, measured by stimulation with wooden interdental cleaners using the interdental bleeding index assessment method. The 119 adult subjects with gingival inflammation were randomly assigned to one of four groups at the beginning of a supervised 2 week clinical trial. The toothbrushing only group achieved a 35% reduction in bleeding sites and the three flossing groups all demonstrated dramatic reductions of about 67%. The three varieties of dental flosses were about equally effective in reducing interproximal bleeding and doubly effective as toothbrushing alone. Compared to probing, the interdental bleeding index method is considered a simplified method of assessing interproximal gingival inflammation.