Reduction in caries rate among patients with xerostomia using a power toothbrush.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the use of a Sonicare toothbrush could be beneficial in reducing coronal and/or root caries among patients with medication-induced xerostomia. Eighty subjects with drug-induced xerostomia using either a Sonicare toothbrush (SC) or a manual toothbrush (MTB) were included in the study. Control subjects using a MTB were frequency-matched to 40 subjects using a SC, based on age, gender, number of teeth at baseline, and salivary flow rates. Subjects were individually matched according to the type of xerostomic medication they were taking. Caries were assessed at baseline, and subjects were instructed to have carious teeth restored. Summary statistics were assessed and computed by treatment group for incipient and frank coronal and root caries after one year. Statistical comparisons of the number of frank and incipient coronal and root caries between treatment groups were conducted using paired t-tests. After one year of use, the numbers of incipient and frank root caries were significantly lower among subjects using SC compared to subjects using MTB. Subjects using SC also exhibited somewhat lower incipient and frank coronal caries than subjects using MTB, although their differences were not statistically significant. The authors concluded that the Sonicare toothbrush may be beneficial in reducing root caries among older adults with medication-induced xerostomia.

Stimulation of salivary flow with a powered toothbrush in a xerostomic population.

The purpose of this study was to determine if using a Sonicare toothbrush was a beneficial treatment of xerostomia. Sixty-one subjects with medication-induced xerostomia were randomly assigned a Sonicare (SC) or manual toothbrush (MTB). Subjects were followed for four visits (one month apart); after two months, the MTB group crossed over to using a SC. At each visit, saliva flow was measured by subjects expectorating for five minutes at four collection periods. For the first sample subjects were asked to spit while brushing for three minutes and for two minutes after brushing. Five-minute saliva collections were taken at 15-, 30- and 45-minute intervals. Questionnaires were administered at the end of the study period and three years later. Paired analysis on the MTB group that crossed over to SC showed significant increase in salivary flow at all post-brushing collections (p < 0.01). The end-of-study questionnaire showed that 96.4% of subjects found the SC comfortable to use, 98.2% had enhanced salivary flow, and 92.7% would use it to increase salivary flow. After three years, subjects rated the cleaning effect of the SC more than 4.5 (where 5 = excellent). The Sonicare toothbrush may help in the treatment of xerostomia. The use of a Sonicare resulted in a statistically significant increase in post-brushing salivary flow rates in persons with medcation-induced xerostomia.