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Oral Hygiene Practices: Ancient Historical Review
... As far back as 7000 BC, toothpicks was among the oral hygiene products used by the people. Excavations revealed that Sumerians of 3000 BC used gold extensively to decorate toothpick which they used in maintaining oral hygiene (Gurudath et al., 2012). Cast bronze pendants produced by ancient Chinese were used as toothpicks. ...
... In time past, toothpicks used to be a part of the items found in the personal kit that also contain an ear wax scoop and depilatory tweezers. Archeological studies suggests that golden toothpicks was part of the items found in a famous toilet set used by a Mesoptamian king around 3000 B.C.E (Fischman, 1997;Gurudath et al., 2012). It is believed that toothpick evolved into chew stick after many years. ...
... It is believed that toothpick evolved into chew stick after many years. Around 1600 B.C., the Chinese started using chew stick which had one end chewed (like a brush) and the other pointed (like a toothpick) (Gurudath et al., 2012). The habit of chewing toothpick could promote oral health (Buunk-Werkhoven, 2017). ...
oothpick is mainly used to remove food particles, fishbone and meat stuck between the teeth after a meal. Poor handling and exposure of toothpicks on dinner tables in many eateries could pose a public health risk. In this study, a total of one hundred (100) wooden toothpicks were randomly sampled from twenty (20) eateries in five (5) locations in Benin City. A packet of toothpick purchased from a shop served as control. Microbiological analysis and antibiotic sensitivity tests involved the use of standard methods and disc agar diffusion method, respectively. The percentage occurrence of bacterial isolates from the samples include Bacillus sp. (25 %), Staphylococcus sp. (20 %), Streptococcus sp. (20 %), Proteus sp. (15 %), Salmonella sp. (10 %), Escherichia coli (5 %) and Klebsiella sp. (5 %) while the fungal isolates include Saccharomyces cerevisiae (80 %), Penicillium sp. (10 %) and Mucor sp. (10 %). The bacterial isolates were resistant to many antibiotics used in the study with the exception of gentamicin and ofloxacin. In order to prevent microbial contamination of toothpicks in the eateries which could lead to disease transmission, toothpicks should be rinsed with potable water before using it. Toothpicks should not be exposed on dinner tables. Instead, automatic toothpick dispenser should be provided in eateries.
... Taip pat Kinijoje buvo gana išsamiai dokumentuojami pacientai: užrašomas jų vardas, liga bei galimas gydymas [3]. Burnos higienos priežiūrai naudoti dantų krapštukai bei į dantų šepetėlius panašios lazdelės, kurių vienas galas buvo nukramtytas ir naudojamas apnašų šalinimui, o kitas -smailus -skirtas maisto likučių pašalinimui iš tarpdančių [7]. Panašus dantų šepetėlio aprašymas pateikimas ir to laikotarpio Indijos raštuose. ...
... Taip pat jis parašė traktatą apie daugybę dantenų patologijų, tokių kaip dantenų kraujavimas, opos, recesijos bei jų gydymą [1]. Avicena pabrėžė, jog svarbu rūpintis burnos ir dantų švara ir jai palaikyti siūlė taikyti tokias priemones kaip sraigių kiautų milteliai, elnio ragų pelenai, druska, taip pat naudoti specialiai dantų valymui pritaikytą medinę lazdelę -misvaką (2 pav.) [6,7]. Augalo, iš kurio gaminamos šios lazdelės, sudėtyje yra natrio bikarbonatų bei tanino rūgšties -medžiagų, turinčių teigiamą poveikį dantenoms [6]. ...
... Po kelerių metų vietinei anestezijai pradėtas taikyti kokainas [18]. Kitą svarbų žingsnį žengė mikrobiologas ir vienas iš imunologijos pradininkų Luisas Pasteras (Louis Pasteur), atradęs fermentacijos ir daugelio žmogaus ligų šaltinį, o Džozefas Listeris (Joseph Lister) pritaikė šį atradimą ir pradėjo naują -antiseptikos ir aseptikos -erą [1,7]. Dar vienas svarbus atradimas, pakeitęs iki tol egzistavusią odontologijos ir periodontologijos praktiką, buvo 1895 m. ...
Periodonto ligomis žmonės serga nuo seniausių laikų, joms gydyti taikytos pačios įvairiausios priemonės – vaistažolės, burtai, maldos, dantenų masažai, molio tabletės, užkalbėjimai ir kt. Burnos higienos svarbai daug dėmesio jau buvo skirta senovės Indijoje ir Kinijoje. Šiuolaikinis, mokslo žiniomis grindžiamas gydymas ir sudėtingesnių periodontologinių instrumentų taikymas prasidėjo tik XVIII a. Periodonto ištyrimui skirti periodontologiniai zondai gerokai ištobulėjo nuo vienapusio rankinio pirmosios kartos instrumento iki sudėtingų kompiuterizuotų prietaisų.
... Mouthrinses similarly contained ingredients which would have had some salivary flow stimulating effect, breath odor masking and antimicrobial actions, albeit not necessarily 12 formulated with all these activities in mind. Alcohol-based mouthrinses were particularly popular with the Romans and 13 included white wine and beer. Urine, as a mouthrinse, appeared to be popular with many peoples and over many 14 centuries. ...
... Urine, as a mouthrinse, appeared to be popular with many peoples and over many 14 centuries. There even appeared differences in opinion, with the Cant-abri and other peoples of Spain preferring stale urine, whereas Fauchard (1690-1761) in France recom- 13 mended fresh urine. The Arab nations were purported to prefer children's urine and the Romans to prefer Arab urine. ...
Periodontal disease and chronic gingivitis, are certainly pandemic but are of such low morbidity that the case for prevention and indeed treatment is harder to aid. Nevertheless, for the most common dental diseases such as caries and periodontitis, there is a widespread demand for primary and tertiary prevention aimed at the individual or the
population as a whole. The chemical anti-plaque agents constitute one of the most successful prevention measures documented in dentistry for gingival and periodontal disease. Notably, this approach has benefited very large numbers
of people and yet has been a cost-effective exercise. The search for effective antiplaque agents has subsequently received much impetus over the last decade, with numerous reviews published on the subject. This review primarily debate the efficacy and side effects of a range of chemical agents used for the prevention of periodontal and gingival
diseases
... They were constantly developing in all areas, including trade, sailing, craftmanship, as well as science and culture. Their medicine developed accordingly, making a unique contribution in development of modern scientific medicine (1,11 Hippocrates, health of the body was defined as a balance in between four humours-blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile. When these humours are in dispropportion, the disease will occur. ...
... When these humours are in dispropportion, the disease will occur. He wrote Corpus Hippocraticum (The Hippocratic Collection) in where he devoted 32 paragraphs to the dentition (11). In his work he discussed the function and eruption of the teeth and the etiology of periodontal disease. ...
The diseases of the periodontium are considered as old
as the recorded history of mankind. The historical evaluation
of pathology and therapeutics can be traced through the
variety of sources: anatomical findings from more or less
well-preserved skeletal parts, details observed in mummies,
instruments and equipment collected during archaeological
investigations and evidence from engravings and various
manuscripts. Studies in paleopathology have indicated that
a destructive periodontal disease, as evidenced by bone loss,
accompanied early human beings in diverse cultures. Almost
all early historical records that involve dental topics
have several chapters dealing with periodontal disease and
the need for treatment.
The development of dentistry can be conveniently divided
into three periods: magico-religious medicine (5000–
400 BC); empirico-rational medicine (400 BC–1500 AD)
and scientific medicine (1500 AD – until today).
... Salt and vinegar were less commonly mentioned. Although these remedies have been described in ancient times, a mixture of salts, alum, and vinegar was even recommended by Hippocrates as a mouthwash to combat halitosis (Gurudath et al., 2012). Regarding the method of use, 100% of the herbalists who mentioned using alum reported using it as a rinse. ...
Context: For centuries, herbal remedies have been widely used to alleviate and prevent oral pathologies.
Aims: To compare the herbalists’ knowledge with that of the local population, their prevalence of the use of modern non-pharmacological medicine, and investigate the traditional knowledge of the use of medicinal and aromatic plants for oral health in Meknes, Morocco.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire. Along with medicinal plants, other remedies such as alum, salt, and vinegar have also been investigated. Statistical calculations by use value, relative frequency of citation, family use value, informant consensus factor, and fidelity level were performed and compared between the two groups.
Results: Numerous medicinal plant species were identified for oral health, namely Syzygium aromaticum, Juglans regia, and Ammi visnaga. Most participants reported using these plants to treat and prevent dental caries, gingivitis, and toothache. Herbalists were found to have a greater knowledge of plants and their uses than the general population. However, a significant proportion of participants, including herbalists, opted for modern medicine or dental care and extraction as treatments of choice, combined or not with traditional treatments.
Conclusions: This study emphasizes the rich understanding of medicinal plants for oral health, underscoring herbalists' role as key informants on traditional plant usage for various oral diseases. The populace's increasing reliance on modern dental treatments highlights the limitations of natural remedies for severe oral conditions. Nonetheless, integrating these plants alongside modern dentistry can optimize oral health prevention strategies.
... A further limitation of the review is that the nature of these lesions is challenging to diagnose using the available evidence. In fact, some historical and prehistoric communities utilized various devices for oral hygiene, including roots or even tree branches [46]. These instruments could lead to traumatic injuries in the gingiva-periodontal area, resembling wedge-shaped abrasion lesions caused by brushing trauma. ...
Objectives
Historically, the prevalence of caries has undergone significant changes, particularly increasing with the industrialization of sugar consumption. When examining ancient populations, lower caries rates are discovered, attributed in part to dietary factors. These populations consumed abrasive foods, leading to occlusal wear and reduced non-axial occlusal forces, potentially influencing Non-Carious Cervical Lesions (NCCLs). Although some attribute NCCLs to abfraction, the mechanism remains debated. This systematic review aims to evaluate the presence of NCCLs in ancient populations, shedding light on the factors contributing to their occurrence.
Materials and Methods
The present systematic review was registered on PROSPERO, and the manuscript was prepared following PRISMA guidelines.
Results
After the literature search and article screening, data from 6 studies were included in the meta-analysis, with only 2 reporting NCCLs in ancient skulls, encopassing 17 subjects in 805 examined skulls, suggesting their presence even before the widespread use of toothbrushes. This finding indicates a potential etiopathogenic mechanism linked to abfraction, but the cause is complex and involves abrasive and erosive factors closely tied to dietary habits.
Conclusions
In summary, NCCLs were present in ancient populations, albeit with a much lower prevalence. Their occurrence cannot be solely attributed to wear mechanisms but must be connected to abrasive factors related to diet or practices with religious and cultural significance, such as the use of labrets. Clinical relevance: Th the knowledge of NCCLs presence in acient sculls is crucial today for better understand the associated risk factors. In this context, the analysis of ancient skulls allows us to discern the role that tooth brushing and diet played in the formation of NCCLs, over the past century.
... However, the ancient Egyptians are often credited for the first written recording of a toothpaste formula (ca. fourth century BC) containing a mixture of salt, pepper, mint leaves, and iris flowers [13]. Historically, salt and ash were used in dentifrices as abrasive ingredients serving a similar function as silica in today's modern-day preparations. ...
There has been interest in the history of cosmetics for the last several decades. In part, this renewed curiosity is probably due to the revolutionizing natural movement in the cosmetic industry. In this article, we provide an overview of the historical aspects of the use of natural ingredients in cosmetics, which mostly come from botanical and mineral sources. We begin with an introduction to the art and science of cosmetics in the ancient world, which includes accounts of Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Greek, and Roman cosmetics as well as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine. These dermatological and cosmetic practices, which were advanced for the time, paved the way for the current revolution of natural ingredients in cosmetic products. Without providing a comprehensive historical account, we surveyed selected cultures during different periods of time to provide some perspective of our current understanding of natural ingredients in cosmetics. Attention is also given to the rich contributions of body art by tribal societies to our knowledge base, especially in the areas of dyes and pigments. Finally, we offer some perspective of natural ingredient cosmetics in the Information Age.
... In fact, instruments for scaling already existed at that time. Even if the first mentions of dental hygiene were found in inscriptions from Mesopotamian clay tablets (Gurudath et al., 2012), the first toothbrushes would be Chinese and date from the late 15th century (Fischman, 1997). In Europe; the first mentions of brushes date from the early 18th century when the king's physician, Dionis, recommended "rubbing your teeth with a small sponge every morning" (Philippe, 2016;Dionis, 2012). ...
... Cultural and spiritual elements also have an impact on the admiration of miswak in these regions (Owens & Sami, 2016). The practice dates back millennia in the Middle East, Africa, the Americas and Asia (Gurudath et al., 2012). In different cultures chewing sticks are recognised by various names, i.e. in Hebrew 'qesam', in Arabic 'miswak', in Latin 'mastic', in Japanese 'koyoji' and in Aramaic 'qisa' (Bos, 1993) (Figure 21.1 and Table 21.1). ...
Miswak or Salvadora persica is indigenous to the Middle East and East Asia, including Iraq, Africa, Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan. Traditionally the miswak is considered an essential ingredient for maintaining the health and hygiene of the oral cavity. Thousands of people still use it in different countries, especially in the Middle East and East Asian countries. It is integrated as one of the religious acts and Sunnah of the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the religion of Islam. Hygiene of the oral cavity is an essential part of humans’ overall health and wellbeing, whereas deprived or worsened health of the mouth is related to numerous systematic disorders. The modern way of cleaning teeth is toothpaste and toothbrush, while an extensive range of techniques are present for tooth cleansing and preserving dental hygiene. One among them is the use of herbal chewing sticks/miswak, which is usually obtained from the plant Salvadora persica. The plant is found to be effective against numerous strains of microbes and pathogens; its extract is also found to be beneficial against fungi. This chapter will discuss miswak, the religious importance of miswak, a detailed description of its active phytochemical constituents, methods of using miswak, antifungal, antiviral and antimicrobial effects of Salvadora persica, use of miswak for maintenance of oral health and other medicinal uses of Salvadora persica.
... Hippocrates recommended mixtures of honey, oil, beer, and other herbs as mouth rinse solutions, while the mixture of salt, vinegar, and alum was famous during the Roman Empires. In modern days, there are many brands of mouthwash products in the market, which their effectiveness has been approved by the Dental Association, and not just solutions to eliminate oral malodor but also solutions containing therapeutic substances to prevent caries and gum disease (Stuart, 1997;Gurudath, 2012;Zarabadipour, 2020). ...
Oral and dental health is strongly related with population and society in human history based on archaeological evidences. There is a growing concern toward oral and dental health which relates not only to individual but also population, as oral and dental health nowadays is sought as essential factor in determining life quality. The dynamic of oral and dental health is related to biological and cultural factors. Yet, these factors are predisposed by socioeconomic and demographic situation, diet pattern, technology advancement, as well as globalisation. Moreover, amongst those factors, human behaviour is the main attribute toward oral and dental health status. The era of ageing population is to be the next challenge for better oral and dental health status in the future.
... Salvadora persica est toujours utilisée à l'échelle mondiale (536). Les bâtonnets à mâcher de Salvadora persica sont le premier outil de nettoyage des dents connu de l'histoire, et leur utilisation remonte à 3500 avant notre ère (537). Les bâtonnets de miswak, dérivés de l'espèce végétale Salvadora persica qui appartient à la famille des Salvadoraceae, sont utilisés par la majorité des personnes qui n'ont pas les moyens d'acheter de brosse à dents ni de dentifrice, principalement dans les zones rurales des pays en développement. ...
Le microbiote commensal de la sphère buccale, écosystème complexe, joue un rôle essentiel dans le maintien de la santé orale et systémique. Une relation homéostatique s’établit entre l’hôte et son microbiote résidant. Une perturbation de cet équilibre finement régulé, appelée dysbiose, favorise l’apparition de pathologies bucco-dentaires. A l’intérieur de cette sphère, les espaces interdentaires sont des niches écologiques riches en microorganismes commensaux et pathogènes. Ils restent un défi majeur pour la garantie d’une prophylaxie individuelle de qualité, car inaccessibles aux méthodes traditionnelles de désorganisation du biofilm par voie mécanique et/ou chimique. Notre recherche porte sur l’évaluation clinique de l’efficacité de mesures de prophylaxie orale individuelle des espaces interdentaires chez l’adulte jeune. Elle s’articule autour de deux axes : la désorganisation mécanique du biofilm et l’action chimique. Ainsi, sont évaluées l’efficacité de l’utilisation de brossettes interdentaires calibrées et l’efficacité d’un dentifrice/bain de bouche à base d’extrait de feuille de Carica papaya contenant des flavonoïdes antioxydants, sur la réduction de l’inflammation du parodonte interdentaire cliniquement sain, objectivée par l’évolution du saignement gingival. De même est évaluée la mise en oeuvre de modules d’enseignement théoriques et pratiques auprès des étudiants nécessaires à la transmission d’une connaissance de qualité. En conclusion, ce travail apporte des recommandations pour une orientation novatrice de la valorisation et de l’efficience de la prophylaxie individuelle en santé bucco-dentaire.
... T he removal of dental plaque and food debris is mandatory to maintain good oral health, which also plays a vital role in the prevention of caries and periodontal diseases. [1] Plaque-induced chronic gingivitis is a notable oral health problem prevalent worldwide, affecting people of all ages. The important cause of chronic gingivitis was proved to be dental plaque, which is a well-organized biofilm. ...
Introduction:
The important cause of chronic gingivitis was proved to be dental plaque, which is a well-organized biofilm. However, self-care efforts or mechanical control of dental plaque by toothbrushing was important; these alone will not be enough to prevent gingivitis.
Aim:
The aim of the present systematic review was to compare the effectiveness of herbal and conventional toothpastes on reduction of dental plaque and gingivitis.
Materials and methods:
Data from original scientific papers published in PubMed, Cochrane, Lilacs, and Google Scholar were taken for review up to November 2020. Randomized controlled trials and clinical trials compare the effectiveness of herbal and non-herbal toothpastes on reduction of dental plaque and gingivitis. Articles published in English language only were included. References from the identified publications were manually searched to identify additional relevant articles. Seven publications fulfilled all the inclusion criteria and were finally selected for systematic review. Outcome measurements for gingivitis were gingival index and dental plaque index.
Results:
As all the studies were randomized controlled trials, level of evidence was II. Among all studies, green tea dentifrice toothpastes showed significant reduction when compared with conventional dentifrice, and ayurvedic toothpaste and Carica papaya leaf extract were also effective.
Conclusion:
Herbal toothpaste seems to be powerful similar to non-herbal toothpaste; however, it is no longer extra superior to fluoride toothpaste. Further, long-term randomized studies of >6 months are needed to investigate the beneficial effects of intervention alone.
... Easy availability, simple use, cultural and religious factors, and the low cost of this natural product made many developing countries continue using it for tooth cleaning (3,4) . Chewing sticks for tooth cleaning were practiced in the ancient world by Arabs, Babylon, Greeks, and Romans; it was also used in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and the US, thousands of years ago (5) . ...
Objectives: To assess and compare the oral hygiene, gingival conditions, and salivary microbiota levels among a group of people in Kirkuk city who used miswak or toothbrush regularly for their routine daily oral hygiene. Methods: Sixty male subjects with the age range of 25-65 (mean 35.2), 30 Miswak, and 30 Toothbrush users were enrolled in the study. The oral manifestations were assessed clinically using three different indices, while the microbial effects have been studied simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S), gingival index (GI), and decayed, missing, filled teeth index (DMFT) by determining the level of selected bacterial species in the collected saliva samples from all participants. Results: It showed that all three indices (OHI-S, GI, and DMFT) were significantly higher in Miswak users than in toothbrush users. There were significantly higher pathogenic microorganisms (E.coli, Candida albicans, Klebsiella) in the saliva sample of Miswak used group than in the toothbrush group. On the other hand, there were no significant differences between the two groups regarding (S.pyogenes, Lactobacillus, and Staph aureus). Also, gum recession and tooth wear (Abrasion) were significantly higher in Miswak users than in toothbrush users (P=0.01),(P=0.001), respectively. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the Miswak appears less efficient than tooth brushing to improve oral hygiene and periodontal conditions. Moreover, the antimicrobial agents contained in the Miswak offer no advantages over tooth brushing with toothpaste.
... Different cultures for thousands of years have advocated oral hygiene practices. The "natural toothbrush" -Salvadora persica L., which originates from trees of the family Salvadoraceae, is the first known toothcleaning tool in history, and its use dates back as early as 3500 BCE (Gurudarth et al., 2012). It has been used by Persian, Greek and Roman empires and by Egyptians, Jews and Japanese (Wu et al., 2001). ...
Ethnopharmacological relevance:
Salvadora persica L. chewing stick/miswak is still being used as an oral hygiene tool for plaque control and prevention against gingivitis. Various studies have reported on the therapeutics and prophylactic effects particularly on periodontal disease. This review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of S. persica chewing stick compared to the standard toothbrush for anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis.
Material and Methods
A PRISMA-compliant systematic search of literature was done from the MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Science Direct, PubMed and Google Scholar. Literature that fulfilled eligibility criteria was identified. Data measuring plaque score and bleeding score were extracted. Qualitative and random-effects meta-analyses were conducted.
Results
From 1736 titles and abstracts screened, eight articles were utilized for qualitative analysis, while five were selected for meta-analysis. The pooled effect estimates of SMD and 95% CI were -0.07 [-0.60 to 0.45] with an χ² statistic of 0.32 (p=0.0001), I²= 80% as anti-plaque function and 95% CI were -2.07 [-4.05 to -0.10] with an χ² statistic of 1.67 (p=0.02), I² = 82%.
Conclusion
persica chewing stick is a tool that could control plaque, comparable to a standard toothbrush. Further, it has a better anti-gingivitis effect and can be used as an alternative. Future high-quality RCT with larger sample sizes are recommended.
... Religious and cultural factors also influence the popularity of chewing sticks in these countries (Owens and Sami, 2016). The practice dated back to thousands of years in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas (Gurudath et al., 2012). ...
Poor oral health has been associated with several chronic and systemic disease. Currently, the most common method of teeth cleaning is the use of a toothbrush together with dentifrices. However, natural chewing stick such as S. persica miswak is still used in many developing countries due to their low cost and availability. The present review aims to summarize the evidences on effectiveness of miswak in promoting oral health. The search was performed using Medline via Ebscohost, Scopus and Google Scholar database to obtain relevant articles published between 2010 to May 2020 using the following set of keywords 1) Miswak OR Salvadora OR persica AND 2) dental OR caries OR plaque OR oral OR orthodontics. Isolated microbial inhibition studies were excluded from the review due to its well-established wealth of literature. Miswak was administered as ten different forms, namely mouthwash, toothpaste, chewing stick, essential oil, aqueous extract, ethanol extract, probiotic spray, dental varnish, dental cement or chewing gum. All studies reported a positive effect of miswak as an anti-plaque, anti-gingivitis, anti-cariogenic, promotion of gingival wound healing, whitening properties, orthodontic chain preservation, and biocompatibility with oral cells. Miswak in its different forms demonstrated positive effect towards oral health maintenance and management.
... Oral hygiene has been practiced by different cultures for thousands of years. The chewing stick or miswak (meswak or siwak) which originates from trees of the family Salvadoraceae (Salvadora persica) is the first known tooth-cleaning tool in history, and its use dates back as early as 3500 BC (1). It has been used by Persian, Greek and Roman empires and by Egyptians, Jews and Japanese (2). ...
Objectives:
In this study, the efficacy of a miswak extract-containing toothpaste (Salvadora persica) on gingival inflammation was compared with that of a herbal and a conventional toothpaste.
Methods:
Non-smoking outpatients with sulcus bleeding index (SBI) ≥25% and with periodontal pocket depths ≤3 mm were randomly selected and divided into three groups: M-group, miswak extract-containing toothpaste; P-group, herbal toothpaste; and C-group, conventional toothpaste. After instructing the patients to brush their teeth twice a day for 3 weeks with the assigned toothpaste using a flat-trimmed manual toothbrush, a thorough oral examination was performed by a calibrated examiner (EH). The primary outcome was the SBI after 21 days. Furthermore, the amount of plaque was measured by approximal plaque index (API).
Results:
Sixty-six patients with a mean age of 57.8 ± 10.2 years were recruited and enrolled. After 3 weeks of brushing, all three patient groups showed a significant reduction in SBI. The P-group (SBI reduction: 17.1% ± 9.1) and the M-group (14.5% ± 8.1) showed the strongest effect followed by the C-group (9.4% ± 7.8). All three groups showed a significant reduction in API without significant differences between the groups.
Conclusions:
The use of each of the three tested toothpastes caused a significant reduction in gingival inflammation and amount of plaque. The miswak extract-containing toothpaste showed a similar effect as the herbal toothpaste and can be safely used for domestic oral hygiene in patients with gingivitis.
Introduction Oral cavity is the gateway of our body. So for a health body one’s oral cavity should be healthy. Many researchers have proven the fact that unhealthy oral cavity is the cause of many systemic diseases. It is a common observation which came to notice that many people neglect their oral hygiene because of the insufficient knowledge about oral hygiene maintenance. So, being a dental professional it is our prime duty to make aware the people about their oral hygiene and spread the oral health education and awareness about is maintenance among the society. So the present study was designed among the general public of Nagpur city. Aim & Objective To assess the awareness and practices about oral hygiene among general public of Nagpur city accordng to their age, gender and educational status. Material and Methods A cross sectional survey was conducted among the general public of Nagpur city. A pre-validated eleven item questionnaire was distributed among the general public for a period of one month. Results Out of a study population of 400, 202 (50.5%) of them brush their teeth for 1 to 3 minutes, while 205 (51.25%) follow vertical and horizontal types of brushing. About 184 (46%) were unaware of secondary methods of oral hygiene maintenance and, 320 (80%) of them are unaware about connection between oral and systemic health. Conclusion The overall awareness and practices about oral hygiene among the present study population was satisfactory. However, there is a need to increase the awareness about periodic dental visit and relationship between systemic health and oral cavity. Key Words Awareness, practices, General public, Nagpur city, Oral hygiene
Topic:
Assessing functional cognition is a critical need for intensive care unit survivors transitioning to another level of care.
Clinical relevance:
Up to 62% of patients discharged from an intensive care unit have significant cognitive impairment that is not associated with severity of illness, number of comorbidities, or length of hospital stay. For more than 20 years, researchers have published an array of potentially effective interventions, including case management, patient and informal caregiver education, and home health care services.
Purpose:
To describe the impact of and potential interventions for cognitive decline at intensive care unit discharge and discharge readiness on 30-day readmission rates.
Content covered:
Assessing the patient’s functional cognition assessment and advocating for appropriate resources are needed to improve patient and clinical outcomes.
In this study, an improved Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR) epidemic diffusion model for cholera is extended by including migration for susceptible people. This model is applied to a metapopulation that consists of two isolated cities where just susceptible individuals can migrate between the cities. The disease-free equilibrium, the endemic equilibrium points, and the basic reproductive number with unequal migration rates are analyzed for this metapopulation. Firstly, the study showed that the basic reproductive number depends on the migration rates between the cities. Then, showed that when the epidemic SIR system is stable, then the infected cases for cholera outbreak can reach zero in one city, but the infected cases in the other city still can stay positive. Finally, discussed three scenarios that depend on population sizes and migration rates of susceptible people between the cities and showed how important the migration rates are in the diffusion of the cholera outbreak by visualizing these three scenarios. Mathematics Subject Classification Primary: 92B05; Secondary: 92D40
The aim of the study was to compare the effect of the chewing stick (miswak), and toothbrushing on plaque removal and gingival health.
The participants comprised 15 healthy Saudi Arabian male volunteers aged 21 to 36 years, attending the Dental Center at Al-Noor Specialist Hospital in Makkah City in Saudi Arabia. The study was designed as a single, blind, randomized crossover study. The Turesky modified Quigley-Hein plaque and Löe-Silness gingival indices and digital photographs of plaque distribution were recorded at baseline, one week after professional tooth cleaning, and again following three weeks use of either the miswak or toothbrush. Professional tooth cleaning was repeated, and after a further three weeks use of either the miswak or toothbrush (using the alternative method to that used in the first experimental period), plaque and gingival indices, and digital photographs of plaque distribution were recorded anew.
Compared to toothbrushing, the use of the miswak resulted in significant reductions in plaque (p < 0.001) and gingival (p < 0.01) indices. Image analysis of the plaque distribution showed a significant difference in reduction of plaque between the miswak and toothbrush periods (p < 0.05).
It is concluded that the miswak is more effective than toothbrushing for reducing plaque and gingivitis, when preceded by professional instruction in its correct application. The miswak appeared to be more effective than toothbrushing for removing plaque from the embrasures, thus enhancing interproximal health.
Emphasizing evidence-based research and clinical competencies, Dental Hygiene: Theory and Practice, 4th Edition, provides easy-to-understand coverage of the dental hygienist’s roles and responsibilities in today’s practice. It offers a clear approach to science and theory, a step-by-step guide to core dental hygiene procedures, and realistic scenarios to help you develop skills in decision-making. New chapters and content focus on evidence-based practice, palliative care, professional issues, and the electronic health record. Written by Michele Leonardi Darby, Margaret M. Walsh, and a veritable Who’s Who of expert contributors, Dental Hygiene follows the Human Needs Conceptual Model with a focus on client-centered care that takes the entire person into consideration.
Dental plaque is ubiquitous and causes the most common bacterial disorders known to mankind. Whilst there are other factors to consider, thorough and regular plaque removal will result in profound reductions of these diseases. Although the concept of effective mechanical plaque control is intellectually simple, there are many barriers to its successful implementation, both for the individual and the community. Identification of 'high risk' groups for oral diseases might allow better targeting of efforts and progress has been made in this area. Chemical control of plaque or modification of hard/soft tissue substrates, as an adjunct to oral hygiene, have the potential to further reduce the prevalence of these diseases. This has been most convincingly demonstrated by fluoride dentifrices and could be extended further with a caries vaccine. It is to be hoped that further developments will also have a major impact on the periodontal diseases, especially in the light of the emerging data on the relationship between poor oral health and systemic health disorders such as coronary heart disease.
The miswak chewing stick is an oral hygiene device used by the majority of people in Arab Gulf countries. Despite its widespread use, few studies demonstrated its benefits or applications as an alternative and convenient means for cleansing the teeth. This paper will examine the unique properties of the miswak chewing stick and its proper use.
After 20 years of use by the dental profession, chlorhexidine is recognized as the gold standard against which other antiplaque and gingivitis agents are measured. Chlorhexidine's antiplaque effect is a result of the dicationic nature of the chlorhexidine molecule, which affords the agent the property of persistence of antimicrobial effect at the tooth surface, through both bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects. Although other antiplaque agents may show either purely immediate effect, or limited persistence, the degree of chlorhexidine's persistence of effect at the tooth surface is the basis of its clinical efficacy. Similarly, the cationic nature of the chlorhexidine molecule is the basis of the most common side effect associated with the use of the agent--extrinsic tooth staining. Such tooth staining seems to be the result of a local precipitation reaction between tooth-bound chlorhexidine and chromogens found within foodstuffs and beverages. The cationic nature of the chlorhexidine molecule also means that the activity of the agent is rapidly reduced in the presence of anionic agents, specifically those found within certain types of toothpaste; thus care is required when using normal toothbrushing alongside chlorhexidine. By understanding how the chemical properties of the chlorhexidine molecule can explain the plethora of clinical efficacy and safety data, the use of chlorhexidine can be optimally aimed towards the patient groups who would most benefit from the superior therapeutic effect of the agent. Specifically, chlorhexidine would seem to be of most value to patients in whom the ability to perform adequate oral hygiene procedures has been compromised. In these individuals the delivery of the correct dose of chlorhexidine to the tooth surface can be optimized through the judicial use of the several different chlorhexidine formulations now available. Thus, by understanding the properties and limitations of the chlorhexidine molecule, the dental profession can ensure that the efficacy of the agent is maximized, and the side effects associated with the agent are minimized, allowing chlorhexidine to rightly remain the gold standard against which other antiplaque agents are measured.
- W Hoffmann-Axthelm
Hoffmann-Axthelm W. History of Dentistry (1st ed). Chicago,
IL, Quintessence Pub Co 1981:12-18.
The history of oral hygiene products: How far have we come in 6000 years? Periodontology
- S L Fishman
Fishman SL. The history of oral hygiene products: How far
have we come in 6000 years? Periodontology 2000. 1997;15:
7-14.