Clinical Research Abstractsback
Waterpik® Water Flossers Significantly Reduce Plaque Biofilm, Gingivitis, and Bleeding for Patients with Diabetes
Comparative Evaluation of Adjunctive Oral Irrigation in Diabetes
Al-Mubarak S, Ciancio S, Aljada A, Awa H, Hamouida W, Ghanim H, Zambon J,
Boardman T, Mohanty P, Ross C, Dandona P. J Clin Periodontol 2002; 29:295-300.
Objective
To compare the addition of the Waterpik® Water Flosser with the Pik Pocket™ subgingival irrigation tip to routine oral hygiene on the periodontal health of people with diabetes.
Methodology
52 subjects with periodontal disease and either type 1 or type 2 diabetes participated in this 3-month randomized clinical trial. All subjects had scaling and root planing at baseline then were assigned to either add a Waterpik® Water Flosser with the Pik Pocket™ Tip twice daily to their oral hygiene routine or to continue practicing their regular oral hygiene routine. Periodontal health was measured via clinical and metabolic parameters.
Results
Adding the Waterpik® Water Flosser was superior to normal oral hygiene in reducing the traditional measures of periodontal disease: plaque biofilm, gingivitis, and bleeding on probing. The Water Flosser also reduced the serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1B and PGE2, as well as the level of reactive oxygen species, a bacteria and host-mediated pathway for tissue destruction implicated in the pathogenesis of over 100 conditions.
Conclusion
The Waterpik® Water Flosser provided significant periodontal health benefits, both clinically and biologically to people with diabetes.
Social