Comparison of salvadora persica chewing stick and manual tooth brush for efficacy of plaque removal: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objectives: To clinically evaluate the efficacy of chewing stick as alternative to tooth brushing for plaque removal in subject with clinically healthy gingival status. Material and methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted from March 2020 till December 2020 a total of 80 par-ticipants, randomly allocated into two groups of 40 each at Department of Periodontology, Sardar Begum Dental College, Gandhara University, Peshawar, Pakistan. Group A were guided to use toothbrush, while group B was miswak users. Both groups were advised to use the respective group technique twice daily for four weeks. Pre and Post intervention examina-tions were planned by using Modified Quigley-Hein Plaque Index Quigley-Hein Plaque Index, which measures the plaque levels. Data was recorded on the first day (baseline) and after 4 weeks. Data was analyzed using SPSS v.24.0. Results: Mean age of the study participants was 25.54±6.004 years. Plaque was measured using QHPI, at baseline group A presented mean of 5.001±1.50, group B had mean of 4.923±0.63 (p=<0.001), while after 4 weeks, group A showed mean of 2.52±7.82, while mean of group B was 1.37±0.427 (p=<0.001) with more evident decrease in Miswak group. Conclusion: It was concluded that Salvadora Persica chewing stick was comparatively better anti plaque agent as compared to tooth brushes in this specific study.