Appropriatenesss of Relying on Tooth Brushing as a Caries Prevention Method

ABSTRACT

For a long time, the practice of tooth brushing has been advocated as a highly effective method of maintaining oral hygiene and preventing dental caries, so much so that the efficacy of this practice has never really been questioned. However in the recent literature the greater role in the decline of dental caries has been attributed to the use of fluoridated tooth pastes. Is tooth brushing an effective technique modality for preventing dental caries by itself? Is tooth brushing without any usage of fluoridated tooth pastes effective in achieving a caries free dentition or is the role of the fluoridated toothpaste integral to achieve this? This article assesses the dental literature available to determine whether it is appropriate to rely on tooth brushing as caries preventive method. Tooth brushing cannot be completely disregarded as an oral hygiene measure. Following an efficient Tooth-brushing technique with appropriate frequency and Fluoridated Tooth paste can prevent tooth decay