Enhancing the effect of oral hygiene with the use of a foam brush with chlorhexidine.

The maintenance of oral hygiene for hospitalized patients, particularly medically compromised and immune compromised patients, may reduce the risk of oral and systemic infection. Foam brushes have been recommended for use in these populations, however, the use of a foam brush has not been shown to be an acceptable alternative to the use of a toothbrush. In this study, we demonstrate that the use of a foam brush saturated with chlorhexidine was equally effective in measures of plaque levels and gingivitis as was the use of a toothbrush. Therefore if a toothbrush cannot be used in hospitalized patients, an alternative may be the use of chlorhexidine applied with a foam brush.