Clinical trial comparing the efficacy of interdental oral irrigation devices with interdental brushes in adults with gingivitis

Participants will be given taylored oral hygiene instruction on each device, either an interdental brush or an oral irrigation device prior to use. The interdental brush is in essence like a small "bottle" brush that comes in various sizes. The size specific to each individual trial participant will be professionally sized by the trial oral hygiene educators. The oral irrigation device is a high pressure water streaming device which focuses a controlled amount of water pressure on the interdental spaces. Both devices are designed to remove, food debris, biofilm (dental plaque) and remove bacterial toxins to the betterment of gingival health. Both devices are to be used in the participants home bathroom enviroment. The oral hygiene educators have been calibrated and will have access to a "script" for the fundamental messages on safe and correct use that each participant must receive. The participant will be randomly allocated a device by the oral educator and this information will be noted by them and it is highly important that the participants don't let the clinical assessors know which device they are using at any time. Participants will only be taught about either the interdental brushes or oral irrigation device prior to them commencing use with that implement for the specified time by the Oral hygiene educators. The educators are year 2 Dentistry students who are already AHPRA registered Oral Health Therapists with at least 3 years experience each as OHT's. One to one personalised oral hygiene education for each device will be implemented in the dental chair with mirrors and the "touch to teach" method of education i.e. show, demostrate physically and the patient explains and demonstrates to the educator themselves to verify appropriate uptake of the correct technique. This session is expected to take no more than 20-25 minutes. The participant is expected to use each device at least once a day at a time convenient to them. The duration of use for each device is expected to be not more than 4-5 minutes per day for a four week period. The patient then returns, has their clinical parameters taken once again. At this point the participant is asked to return to the Interdental cleaning method they used before the trial for a "washout period" of two weeks. The the participant will return and receive the subsequent oral hygiene education for the device they have not yet used. The adherance of the participant to the regime is self-motivated on their part. This is part of what we assess via the qualitative questionaire on their last visit of the trial to determine which device they found the easiest to use and felt was the most effective in cleaning inbetween their teeth. The total timeline for the trial will be 5 visits over 12 weeks.