A Comparative Study on the Efficacy of Plaque Removal Using Conventional Toothbrushes, Bamboo Toothbrushes, and Neem Toothbrushes among School-going Children.

Introduction: There are many novel toothbrushes available in the market today. The most sustainable option among natural toothbrushes like bamboo toothbrush, neem toothbrush, etc., when compared to the plastic toothbrush, bamboo and neem toothbrushes are biodegradable and can reduce the plastic waste.

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of plaque removal using conventional toothbrush, bamboo toothbrush, and neem toothbrush.

Materials and methods: A randomized, parallel study was conducted among 150 schoolchildren, aged 6-12 years, for a period of 3 months. Three types of toothbrushes were used-plastic toothbrush, bamboo toothbrush, and neem toothbrush. Follow-up was taken at 1 month and 3 months.

Results: In this study, the average plaque scores were as follows: for group A, they were 1.55 ± 0.51 before the operation, 0.66 ± 0.44 after 1 month, and 0.55 ± 0.40 after 3 months. Group B had preop scores of 1.63 ± 0.44, which dropped to 0.55 ± 0.6 after 1 month and 0.48 ± 0.5 after 3 months. Group C's preop plaque scores were 0.92 ± 0.59, decreasing to 0.39 ± 0.44 at 1 month and 0.30 ± 0.4 at 3 months. The p-value for all three groups was 0.001, indicating statistical significance, as it is below the 0.05 threshold.

Conclusion: Natural toothbrushes are equally effective as conventional toothbrushes for plaque removal, are ecofriendly, and biodegradable. Natural toothbrushes can be used as an alternative to plastic toothbrushes. However, additional studies would be required in order to implement these results.

How to cite this article: Ranwa S, Manohar B, Patel R, et al. A Comparative Study on the Efficacy of Plaque Removal Using Conventional Toothbrushes, Bamboo Toothbrushes, and Neem Toothbrushes among School-going Children. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2025;18(4):420-424.