THE USE OF DENTAL PLAQUE DYES AS A MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR IMPROVING INDIVIDUAL ORAL HYGIENE

Abstract

Background. Insufficient motivation for high-quality tooth brushing is an important factor that causes poor oral hygiene. Various dyes are used to assess the state of oral hygiene. The use of two-phase indicators is particularly interesting. It makes it possible not only to detect plaque, but also to determine its "age". This makes it possible to evaluate the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of brushing teeth. The effectiveness of using two-phase plaque indicators has been the subject of many studies. However, the question of the effectiveness of their use as a motivating factor for high-quality tooth brushing is not covered in the available literature. Aim: to study the effectiveness of using two-phase plaque dye to motivate children to improve their brushing skills using it at home to improve oral hygiene. Materials and methods. 37 children aged 10-12 years who sought help at the O.O. Bogomolets Dental Medical Center of NMU participated in the study. The studies were divided into two groups - the basic (19 children) and control (18). These groups were balanced for baseline plaque index and baseline gingivitis index. Children were given recommendations on oral care. In the main group, it was recommended to use "Mira-2-Ton" tablets (Miradent, Germany) at home for 1 week after brushing teeth to detect the remains of dental plaque. Individual preventive measures were carried out according to the generally accepted methodology in several visits. A control assessment of the state of oral hygiene was carried out - after 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 and 3 months. Results. After 1, 2 weeks, a statistically significant difference was found in the dynamics of mastering oral hygiene skills between the two observation groups - the basic and control groups (р<0.001), oral hygiene in the children of the basic group was significantly better. It is obvious that the use of a dye after brushing teeth to detect the remains of dental plaque by the children of the basic group contributes to better brushing of teeth and faster formation of the correct skill of the method of brushing teeth. After 1, 3 months of observation, good hygiene was found in both groups. Data from the study of the hygienic condition of the oral cavity show that the differences in the level of mastering the skill of brushing teeth are not statistically significant. The improvement in the level of hygiene during these periods in the children of the control group indicates the effectiveness of controlled tooth brushing under the supervision of a dentist. Conclusion: The use of a two-phase dye to detect dental plaque at home provides visual motivation to improve skills and abilities when conducting individual oral hygiene and contributes to the faster formation of the correct skill of brushing teeth. It has been established that controlled tooth brushing under the supervision of a doctor, by correcting brushing skills, also contributes to the formation of correct hygienic habits.