ArticleBMC pediatrics2020
Toothbrush deterioration and parents' suggestions to improve the design of toothbrushes used by children with special care needs.
Article in BMC pediatrics, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 8 citations in OpenAlex.
- Dental Plaque Removal with Two Special Needs Toothbrushes in Patients with Down Syndrome: A Parallel-Group Randomised Clinical Trial of Efficacy.Oral health & preventive dentistry · 2022Trial
- Optimizing oral hygiene for children and adolescents with Down syndrome: a scoping review.Canadian journal of dental hygiene : CJDH = Journal canadien de l'hygiene dentaire : JCHD · 2025Article
- Challenges and strategies in dental care for patients with intellectual disabilities in Hungary.Maxillofacial plastic and reconstructive surgery · 2025Article
- Fabrication of a novel "all in one glove"- a functional tool for oral hygiene maintenance and the assessment of its effectiveness on plaque control in spastic cerebral palsy patients.Frontiers in oral health · 2024Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundBiting objects was a parafunctional oral habit among children with special care needs. Chewing or biting toothbrushes could expedite the process of toothbrush wear. However, few studies evaluated the deterioration levels of toothbrushes used by children with special needs. This study aimed to assess the deterioration level of toothbrushes used by children with special care needs, and collect parents' feedbacks to improve the design of children's toothbrushes.
methodsThe cross-sectional study recruited 277 children who had special care needs. Children's toothbrushing behaviors, background information, and parents' comments on toothbrushes were obtained. Toothbrush deterioration was assessed by bristle wear and bite mark scores. Higher scores indicated severe deterioration.
resultsThree hundred twenty-one toothbrushes were collected. Children who used 2 to 6 toothbrushes in a 3-month period showed higher toothbrush deterioration scores than children who used a single toothbrush. Over 40% children's toothbrushes presented excessive wear. Excessive wear was associated with social skills and parents' education background. Distinct bite marks tended to exist on toothbrushes which had been used by children who showed challenging behaviors during toothbrushing (OR = 1.96, 95%CI1.15-3.32, p < 0.05). Approximately 27% parents reported that children's toothbrushes should be modified. Parents recommended that the size of toothbrush heads, the angle of handles, and the texture/length/distribution/diameter of bristles should be adjusted. Besides, ideal toothbrushes should be able to provide verbal or visual instructions to children, motivate children to brush teeth, simplify toothbrushing procedure, and protect children who had toothbrush-biting habits.
conclusionsExcessive wear and distinct bite marks can be found on toothbrushes that had been used by children with special care needs. Toothbrush deterioration was associated with children's social skills, toothbrushing behaviors, and parents' educational attainment. The commercially available toothbrushes should be modified to meet the additional needs of young children.
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