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In This Issue by Trisha O’Hehir, RDH, MS Editorial Director, Hygienetown

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Tradition vs. Research

by Trisha O’Hehir, RDH, MS Editorial Director, Hygienetown

Toothbrushing is the most common oral hygiene practice in the world today. People have been brushing their teeth for centuries. Reports go as far back as the ancient Egyptians who constructed crude implements with twigs and leaves. Many cultures used twigs over the years and in Africa there is a “toothbrush tree” providing the best branches for chew sticks. Regular toothbrushing with modern day toothbrushes began in Europe at the end of the 17th century. 1780 was the beginning of mass-produced toothbrushes in England, followed by the United States.

Much of toothbrushing is habit or tradition. Most people wet their toothbrush before brushing, a habit from the days when hard bristles were the only kind used in toothbrushes. Hard bristles had to be softened with water before brushing. Today most toothbrushes are made with soft bristles that don’t need to be softened with water before brushing although most everyone still does wet the brush first, purely a habit.

Despite being science-based professionals, dentists and hygienists are taught traditions with no research base. Toothbrushing is one of those traditions. There are many studies comparing one toothbrush to another, a manual toothbrush to a power toothbrush and studies comparing a variety of power toothbrushes. Toothbrushing is assumed to be the most important oral hygiene activity and is therefore essential for oral health. Granted, when compared, toothbrushing removes more plaque than not brushing. That is a scientific fact. However, toothbrushing is such an ingrained habit that consumers and clinicians tend to ignore the scientific fact that toothbrushing doesn’t reach the areas in the mouth at greatest risk of dental disease.

Your basic oral health philosophy changes as new scientific research is presented, new products or ingredients are introduced and as consumer awareness changes. The goal remains the same – optimal oral health. How you believe optimal oral health can be achieved is based on three key elements: scientific research, your personal experience and the preferences of your patients.
Inside This Section
116      Perio Reports
120      Profile in Oral Health: Research and Perio
124     Basic Needs Abroad
125     Message Board: Evidence-based DH – How Much of What We Do is Science-based?
Dentaltown Magazine
September 2025
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