Miswak (Salvadora Persica) Versus a Toothbrush in Plaque Removal

NCT07409610 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 35-03-25institutional review board
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 82
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The study investigates the effectiveness of a 45°-cut miswak for plaque removal compared to a toothbrush in children and assesses their preferences for these tools. Conducted at King Abdulaziz University Dental Hospital, it employs a split-mouth randomized controlled trial design to measure plaque levels and gather feedback through a questionnaire.

Conditions

Dental Caries; Dental Plaque Accumulation

Keywords

Salvadora persica; Brushing technique; plaque removal; Miswak

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• The plaque index score

  The plaque index score, a continuous measure assessed using the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) developed by Greene and Vermillion (1964) (Greene and Vermillion 1964)

  At baseline and after 3 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Intervention (Miswak)

EXPERIMENTAL

This arm introduces a 45° miswak technique, which aligns with the modified Bass method by angling the miswak fibers at 45° toward the gingival margin

Other: Miswak

Control (Tooth brushing)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this arm used the modified bass technique using normal tooth brush and tooth paste

Other: Toothbrush

Interventions

Miswak OTHER

Miswak is a traditional oral hygiene tool made from the twigs of the Salvadora persica tree. It's used for cleaning teeth and has natural antibacterial properties. Miswak is popular in many cultures, particularly in the Middle East and parts of Africa, and is valued for its effectiveness in promoting oral health.

Also known as: Salvadora persica

Intervention (Miswak)

Toothbrush OTHER

A toothbrush is a small, handheld device used for cleaning teeth and maintaining oral hygiene. It typically consists of a handle and a head with bristles that help remove plaque, food particles, and bacteria from the teeth and gums, often used in conjunction with toothpaste.

Control (Tooth brushing)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 6 Years - 14 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Healthy children aged 6 to 14 years.
• Children who their parents/legal guardians have approved and signed the consent form, which ensures that the participants are within the target age range and are healthy, which helps to control variables that could affect oral hygiene outcomes.

You may not qualify if:

• Unhealthy children
• Children whose ages are below 6 years or above 14 years
• Children with orthodontic brackets because it can affect oral hygiene practices and outcomes, excluding these participants ensures a more homogeneous sample.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• King Abdulaziz University: lead

Study Sites (1)

King Abdulaziz university

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Dental Caries

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Tooth Demineralization; Tooth Diseases; Stomatognathic Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR
• Masking Details: The study used single blinding, meaning the examiners didn't know which side of the mouth was treated with Miswak or toothbrush to avoid bias in their assessments. Since the tools used (Miswak and toothbrush) looked different, it wasn't possible to blind the participants or their parents.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 19, 2026
• First Posted: February 13, 2026
• Study Start: September 12, 2025
• Primary Completion: December 12, 2025
• Study Completion: January 19, 2026
• Last Updated: February 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

SA (1)