Сomparative Analysis of Tooth Brushing Efficiency in Children of Different Ages

Introduction. An essential part of preventive oral hygiene programs is the detection of dental plaque. Special disclosing agents are used for biofilm visualization. The purpose of the study is to conduct a comparative analysis of tooth brushing quality in schoolchildren aged 7, 12, and 15 years old, as assessed by plaque visualization using a two-tone disclosing agent. Material and methods. A clinical examination was conducted on 72 schoolchildren from the Odesa district, Ukraine, aged 7, 12, and 15 years, comprising 40 boys and 32 girls. We used a two-tone disclosing agent (Mira-2-Ton solution, Hager & Werken, Germany). With its application, the early biofilm turns pink, and the mature biofilm becomes blue. To objectively assess tooth brushing, an indicator of the number of stained areas per tooth was calculated, known as the Biofilm Two-Color Identification Index (BTII). Results. The lowest level of oral hygiene was observed in 12-year-old children, with 79.1 ± 4.3% of teeth affected and 66.68 ± 5.91 areas with plaque, as indicated by a BTII index score of 3.16 ± 0.18. In 7-year-olds, 67.6 ± 4.6% of teeth and 44.45 ± 4.63 areas had plaque, and BTII scores were 2.78 ± 0.16. In 15-year-olds, 74.6 ± 4.5% of teeth and 64.73 ± 5.64 areas had plaque, and BTII scores were 3.00 ± 0.12. The ratio of the pink regions with early biofilm to the blue areas with mature biofilm was 81.3/18.7% in 12-year-olds, 87.9/12.1% in 15-year-olds, and 91.6/8.4%, indicating the best toothbrushing technique in older schoolchildren. Children aged 7 years had worse brushing on the right side and lower incisors. Twelve-year-olds had issues with incisors and canines on both jaws. Fifteen-year-olds often experience problems with their molars, particularly on the right side of their mouth. Conclusion. Disclosing plaque visualization helps to establish the level of oral hygiene and provides personalized instructions to improve oral hygiene care in children.