Comparative efficacy of Colgate Actibrush battery-powered toothbrush and Colgate Plus (manual) toothbrush on established plaque and gingivitis: a 30-day clinical study in New Jersey.

The objective of this 30-day clinical study, conducted in harmony with American Dental Association guidelines, was to evaluate the efficacy of a new battery-powered toothbrush (Colgate Actibrush) relative to a manual toothbrush (Colgate Plus Diamond Head Toothbrush, Full Head, Soft Bristle) in the control of supragingival plaque and gingivitis. A total of 110 adult men and women from the Northern New Jersey area were entered into the study and stratified into 2 balanced groups according to baseline plaque and gingivitis scores. Participants were instructed to brush twice daily (morning and evening) for 1 minute with their assigned toothbrush and a commercially available toothpaste (Colgate Cavity Protection Great Regular Flavor Fluoride Toothpaste). Examinations for plaque and gingivitis were conducted by the same dental examiner at baseline, after 15 days, and again after 30 days of product use. All 110 participants complied with the protocol and completed the 30-day clinical study. At the 30-day examinations, the group using the Colgate Actibrush battery-powered toothbrush exhibited a statistically significant greater reduction in plaque (26.7%) and in gingivitis (25.8%) than did the group who used the Colgate Plus Diamond Head Toothbrush. The results of this 30-day clinical study support the conclusion that the Colgate Actibrush battery-powered toothbrush provides a clinically superior level of efficacy for the control of supragingival plaque and for the control of gingivitis when compared with a manual toothbrush.