Improvement of oral hygiene in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Programs in power toothbrushing, manual toothbrushing with conventional fluoride toothpaste and with a chlorhexidine/fluoride gel has been evaluated for plaque removal in an observer blind cross-over clinical trial on 14 rheumatoid arthritis patients. All three regimens lead to considerable improvement in oral hygiene. The use of an electric toothbrush was slightly more effective than a manual brush. Brushing with a chlorhexidine/fluoride gel gave the best results, but its clinical use is limited by unacceptable taste, discoloration and possibly adverse soft tissue effects.