This In Vivo study aimed to compare the antibacterial activity of
alcoholic extract of propolis and Miswak with sodium hypochlorite and saline.
The study was performed on 40 infected single root canals for
patients of both sexes, regardless of gender or age.
The aim of this clinical study is to determine the efficiency of miswak (cleaning
sticks – chewing sticks) in comparison with toothbrush in
removingdental plaque from facial, lingual and interproximal surfaces and
reducing Gingivitis.
A total of
56 dental students who were divided into two groups were included in
the study. This study was divided into two stages.
The first stage, and after the experimental plaque accumulation, the volunteers
cleaned their teeth (toothbrush or miswak) for five minutes.
Then the clinical measurements were recorded.
The second stage, the volunteers used according to their group either toothbrush
and dentifrice or miswak twice a day for five minutes for three weeks.
In the first stage, there was no difference between the two groups in gingivitis.
The values of Turesky’s index to assess the plaque on facial and lingual surfaces
were a little higher for miswak users, but the difference was statistically
insignificant. While the cleaning of interproximal spaces was more evident in
toothbrush users, either facial or lingual, and the difference was significant (P <
0.01).
Generally, neither miswak nor toothbrush were able to produce completely
interproximal dental health. So, the cleaning of facial surfaces by using
toothbrush or miswak was better than lingual surfaces (P <0.05).
In the second stage, the plaque and gingival values were higher in miswak users,
but the difference was not significant.
The result: miswak cannot remove dental plaque completely, but the site of
plaque on the facial and lingual surfaces were almost similar to those among
toothbrush users.
Finally, a toothbrush possessed a clear superiority in cleaning interproximal
spaces, thus making it the oral Hygiene aid of choice.
