Comparison of Plaque Removal Efficacy of Toothbrush with Bristle Containing Neem and Charcoal for Maintaining Oral Hygiene: A Randomised Clinical Trial

Introduction: To facilitate good oral health, plaque control by toothbrushing is of utmost importance. The poor oral hygiene leads to accumulation of plaque and calculus. It is the primary etiological factor for gingival diseases. Aim: To compare the plaque removal efficacy of toothbrush bristles containing neem and charcoal to assess the effect on oral hygiene. Materials And Methods: This was a double-blind, randomised clinical trial conducted among 30 participants of age 33 to 44 years, who reported to the Outpatient Department of Sharad Pawar Dental College and Hospital, Maharashtra, India, for 21 days, in April 2021. Neem and charcoal toothbrushes were given to allotted participants and plaque index was measured at baseline, 7th day, and 15th day. For intergroup and intragroup comparison Independent t test and repeated measures ANOVA tests were used. Results: The mean plaque score of neem toothbrush and charcoal toothbrush at baseline was 2.13 and 2.18 and, on day 7th was 1.79 and 1.48, respectively. No significant difference was found between the plaque scores of both the groups at baseline and seven days. However, a statistically significant difference was observed in the plaque index at 15th day between neem (1.21) and charcoal (0.61) groups with p=0.004. Conclusion: According to the present study results, when compared to neem toothbrushes, charcoal toothbrushes had greater plaque control efficacy for maintaining good oral hygiene.