Electric vs manual: which toothbrush wins for cleaner teeth and healthier gums?
NCT ID NCT07691814
First seen Jul 09, 2026 · Last updated Jul 10, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether a new Sonicare power toothbrush head removes more dental plaque and reduces gum inflammation (gingivitis) than a standard manual toothbrush. About 100 adults with gingivitis will brush twice daily with either the power or manual brush for six weeks. Researchers will measure plaque levels and gum health at two and six weeks to see which method works better.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- power toothbrush (Sonicare with All-in-One brush head)
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this could show that a powered toothbrush removes more plaque and reduces gum inflammation better than a manual brush, supporting better daily oral care.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, short-term study (104 participants, six weeks). Results may not apply to everyone, and any benefit might be modest or not clinically significant.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
104 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2020
- Finished
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Nov 2020
- Lead sponsor
-
A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Be willing and physically able to carry out all study procedures and be available at all times required for participation * Be able to fully understand and comply with the written and verbal instructions provided * Provide written informed consent * Willing to attend all study visits * Agree to return study materials at the required visit(s) * Between the ages of 18-65 years * A non-smoker * Minimum of 20 'scorable' teeth (excluding 3rd molars) * Average plaque score of \>1.8 per Modified Plaque Index scoring with 3-6 hours of plaque accumulation * Gingival bleeding score of \>1 on a minimum of 50 gingival sites per Gingival Bleeding Index * Regular manual toothbrush user Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant or nursing per subject report * A medical or dental condition that would be unduly affected by participation in this study, per Investigator discretion * A medical condition requiring antibiotic pre-medication prior to dental appointments * Diagnosis of xerostomia * Oral or extra oral piercing that interferes with the ability to perform study procedures and/or clinical assessments in the mouth * Currently undergoing or requiring dental/periodontal treatment, or having had periodontal treatment in the six months preceding the study, where the subject's study participation could present an undue safety risk or obscure the evaluation of study endpoints, per Investigator/Examiner discretion * Oral surgery within the last 2 months Currently using professionally dispensed bleaching products * A known allergy or sensitivity to products planned for use in this study * Unwilling to abstain from all other oral hygiene products other than those prescribed for the duration of the study * Participated in an oral care study within the previous 60 days * Employee or a relative of an employee of the Site clinical research department, dental school, or a dental products manufacturing, research or marketing firm * Dental student or dental professional * A cardiac pacemaker or implanted cardiac defibrillator * Insulin-Dependent Diabetes * Current use of antibiotic medications or use within 4 weeks of enrollment * Current use of prescription-dose anti-inflammatory medications or anticoagulants; (including aspirin \> 81 mg daily) * Presence of advanced periodontal disease or excessive gingival recession, per Investigator/Examiner discretion * Heavy deposits of calculus, either supragingival and/or subgingival, per Investigator/Examiner discretion * Extensive crown or bridge work and/or rampant decay, per Investigator/Examiner discretion * Presence of orthodontic bands, wires or brackets * A professional prophylaxis within 4 weeks of the study * Regular power toothbrush user
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Salus Research Inc
Fort Wayne, Indiana, 46825, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Could cleaning the gums protect a transplanted heart?
- Can an electric flosser outperform a manual toothbrush for healthier gums?