Behavior and toothbrushing of young Israeli adolescents

The purpose of the present study was to assess the toothbrushing behavior o f Israeli adolescents attending a pediatric dental clinic, with regard to t he maxillary anterior region. One hundred twenty-three adolescents (57 boys , 66 girls, mean age 12.45 +/- 1.76), participated in this study. The amoun t of plaque extending from the gingival line incisally was measured. Brushi ng characteristics and daily habits were recorded. In 87 patients, 4 mm or more of plaque were measured on the labial surfaces of the maxillary centra l incisors, while thirty-six patients demonstrated less than 4 mm plaque. P atients who brushed the maxillary and mandibular incisors separately showed significantly less plaque than patients who brushed them simultaneously. B rushing the maxillary and the mandibular incisors separately was significan tly more prevalent in the thirteen-to-seventeen-year-olds, and among girls. Also, significantly more girls brushed twice per day, and for more than th ree seconds on each incisor.