What characterizes effective tooth brushing of daily users of powered versus manual toothbrushes?

BMC Oral Health

Table 2 Prediction (Spearman rho) of plaque after brushing and gingival bleeding by behavioural parameters in MT users (n = 52)

	Brushing time	Brushing movement (% of brushing time)^#			NSBSL (brushed ≥ 7.5 s)	Number of neglected sextants (brushed ≤ 1 s)	Tiger bite* (% of brushing time)
		Circular	Horizontal	Vertical
Outer surfaces
MPI	−.186	−.174	.006	.299	a	b	−.179
TQHI	−.095	−.182	.034	.221	a	b	−.026
% TQHI 3–5	−.209	−.130	−.036	.093	a	b	.020
PBI	−.162	−.177	.004	.199	a	b	−.133
% PBI	−.113	−.180	−.021	.161	a	b	−.125
Inner surfaces
MPI	−.161	.129	.110	−.143	−.199	.004	–
TQHI	.003	.108	.104	−.064	−.064	−.096	–
% TQHI 3–5	a	a	a	a	a	a	–
PBI	−.287	.023	.017	−.126	−.308	−.045	–
% PBI	−.275	.073	.053	−.161	−.327	−.083	–

Bold figures indicate significant values. a: not enough variance in this parameter for meaningful correlations (n = 47 out of n = 52 participants brushed all sextants ≥ 7.5 s; % TQHI 3-5 values were extremely low on the inner surfaces); b: no variance in this parameter (all participants brushed all sextants at least 1 s); *not applicable on inner surfaces; #n = 49, as correlations for inner surfaces do not include 3 participants who did not brush inner surfaces at all.

ISSN: 1472-6831