Dental Research Confirms Power Better Than Manual

Media Release
30 June, 2004

New dental research confirms power is better than manual

Three out of four New Zealand health professionals can't be wrong!

Independent research shows 74 percent of New Zealand dental professionals recommend patients use rechargeable power toothbrushes for the all important at home preventative oral health care.

"Regular dental check ups are essential but many people don't understand how good daily dental health habits can help prevent major oral problems," says President of the New Zealand Hygienists Association, Robyn Watson.

"Some of the at home solutions are simple. The use of rechargeable power toothbrushes and their brush head action provide the plaque removing capability superior to other types of toothbrushes," says Robyn.

Ongoing at home maintenance of one of the major oral health problems, plaque, is best achieved by the use of advanced power toothbrushes such as the Oral-B Professional Care - clinically proven to remove up to two times more plaque than a manual toothbrush.

The New Zealand research, which looked at usage and recommendation of toothbrushes by New Zealand dental professionals, also showed nearly all of them recommend Oral-B rechargeable power toothbrushes such as the Oral-B Professional Care.

Another international study, The Cochrane Collaboration, reinforced the benefits of caring for teeth with toothbrushes of which the brush head rotates in one direction and then the other [an oscillating head]. The report, released in 2003, showed this type of power toothbrush removed more plaque and reduced gingivitis more effectively than manual brushes and that no other powered brush designs were consistently superior.

"To ensure teeth remain healthy, the use of a superior toothbrush is vital," says Ms Watson.

"Dentists and hygienists provide care and advice when needed and regular check ups are necessary. However, to prevent tooth decay and possible gum disease, we need to use preventative methods. We now have the technology available to enable us to care for our teeth effectively in the home."

The Dentist Usage and Recommendation Research, commissioned by Oral-B, was carried out by Research Solutions Ltd, which surveyed 300 registered New Zealand dentists and hygienists.

The research was conducted on a national scale and was not branded.

Note to editors:

The Cochrane Collaboration ( http://www.cochrane.org/ ) is an international non-profit organisation which helps consumers and clinicians make well-informed decisions about healthcare by preparing, maintaining and promoting accessibility of systematic reviews on the effects of healthcare interventions.

The Cochrane Collaboration comprises about 50 topic-based collaborative review groups and 8000 contributors in more than 70 countries around the world. The Cochrane Collaboration's US head office is located at Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island with branches in Boston and San Francisco. The Cochrane Collaboration also has centres in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, South Africa, Holland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Norway and the UK.

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