Trial reportBMC oral health2026
The effect of dental floss sequence on plaque removal efficacy and periodontal health: a randomized controlled trial.
Trial report in BMC oral health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Efficacy of combined oral hygiene devices for interproximal plaque removal: an in vitro study.BMC oral health · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundManual toothbrushing with interdental flossing is the gold-standard for plaque removal in preventive dentistry. This trial examines how flossing sequence (pre-, mid-, or post-brushing) impacts plaque removal efficacy and periodontal health.
methodsIn a single-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT), 54 university students were randomized to three groups: pre-brushing flossing (A), post-brushing flossing (B), or mid-brushing flossing (C). Participants followed protocols for 21 days under supervision. Rustogi Modified Navy Plaque Index (RMNPI), bleeding index (BI) and probing depth (PD) were measured at baseline, day 7, and day 21. Analyses used ANOVA (α = 0.05).
resultsBased on the results at day 7, the RMNPI decreased most significantly in the mid-brushing flossing group (p = 0.0388). However, at day 21, no significant difference in plaque removal was observed among the three groups (p = 0.9330). Notably, mid-brushing flossing significantly reduced BI at both day 7 and day 21 (p = 0.0275, p = 0.0151). Additionally, no statistically significant differences were observed among the three groups in terms reducing PD (p = 0.7420, p = 0.4220).
conclusionsThese results suggested that mid-brushing flossing may be more effective in daily dental plaque removal and improving gingival bleeding.
trial registrationThe trial was retrospectively registered with Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) with identifier no. ChiCTR2500108845, registered on 09/08/2025. ( https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=285669 ).
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