Comparing the Efficacy of Toothbrushing With and Without Interproximal Cleaning Aids: A Split-Mouth Trial

The goal of this prospective clinical trial is to evaluate whether adding interproximal cleaning aids (interproximal brush, rubber toothpick, water flosser) to regular tooth brushing improves oral hygiene outcomes and gingival health compared with tooth brushing alone in dental students with gingivitis and intact interdental papillae. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the addition of interproximal cleaning aids to tooth brushing result in greater reduction of dental plaque accumulation compared with tooth brushing alone? * Does the use of interproximal cleaning aids improve gingival bleeding outcomes compared with tooth brushing alone? * Does the use of interproximal cleaning aids affect interdental papilla health and cause soft tissue trauma or damage? * Do different interproximal cleaning aids influence participants' motivation and adherence to oral hygiene practices? Researchers will compare tooth brushing alone with tooth brushing combined with three different interproximal cleaning aids (interdental brush, water flosser, and rubber toothpick) to determine whether these adjunctive methods provide additional benefits in plaque control, gingival health, preservation of interdental soft tissues, and participant motivation. Participants will: * Perform standardized tooth brushing using the modified Bass technique twice daily. * Use the assigned interproximal cleaning aid (interdental brush, water flosser, or rubber toothpick) in designated quadrants according to standardized instructions. * Attend clinical evaluations at baseline and after 7, 14, and 28 days. * Undergo assessment of dental plaque score, gingival bleeding score, interdental papilla condition, and motivation related to oral hygiene practices.

NCT Number	NCT07725276
Lead Sponsor	Saint-Joseph University
Conditions	Gingivitis, Dental Plaque, Periodontal Disease
Enrollment	29 participants
Start Date	2025-10-28
Primary Completion	2026-03-22 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-04-15 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-07-28