Oral hygiene behavior and toothbrushing skills: results of the 6th German Oral Health Study (DMS • 6).

The article reports on the 6th German Oral Health Study (DMS • 6), which investigated toothbrushing skills—defined as the ability to effectively remove plaque—across three age groups: 12-year-olds, 35- to 44-year-olds, and 65- to 74-year-olds. Despite high self-reported toothbrushing frequency and motivation, the study found that approximately half of the gingival margin segments retained plaque after participants brushed their teeth to the best of their ability, indicating widespread deficits in brushing effectiveness. Higher education levels were associated with somewhat better plaque removal, but even well-educated individuals showed substantial residual plaque, especially on molars. The findings suggest a need for population-wide preventive efforts focusing not on whether people brush their teeth, but on improving how they brush to achieve oral cleanliness.