ClinicalTrials.gg
Not yet recruitingNCT07805148Updated Sep 4, 2026

Clinical Assessment of the Safety and Efficacy of Flaus Electric Flosser on Plaque and Gingivitis Compared to a Manual Toothbrush

An interventional study of Device: Electric Flosser and Manual toothbrush in Gingivitis, Gingival Bleeding and Dental Plaque, sponsored by Flaus, Inc. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 70 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-04.

Sponsored by Flaus, Inc · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
80
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 70 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an electric flosser (interproximal cleaning aid), when used with a manual toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, on gingivitis reduction and dental plaque removal.

Read the detailed description

This single-center, randomized, controlled, examiner-blind, 30-day, parallel study will evaluate the efficacy of Flaus electric flosser in reducing interdental plaque, gingival inflammation, and bleeding. The electric flosser is currently marketed in the U.S. and is a Class 1 Exempt medical device which has the lowest risk to users. This Class 1 status means that the device is exempt from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements for premarket notification or approval (510(k)) for a medical device. During this study, data will be collected at baseline, Day 15, and Day 30. Each qualified volunteer will participate in a 30-day clinical trial, with a 7 to 14-day pre-study Washout period. During this period, participant will brush their teeth twice daily only with a soft-bristle, flat-trim manual toothbrush and a sodium fluoride toothpaste (Crest Cavity Protection).

Up to 80 healthy male and female adult participants will be screened, enrolled and randomized so that 74 participants complete this 30-day study. Participants will attend a Screening visit that will include collection of informed consent to participate, dental and medical health history question, oral examination, assessment for plaque and gingivitis.

Participants will be enrolled into the study with existing mild to moderate gingivitis. At Baseline, Day 15 and Day 30, the following exams will be performed in the following order: oral soft and hard tissue exam, Gingival inflammation according to MGI (Modified Gingival Index and Bleeding on Probing (BOP), supragingival plaque levels according to the Rustogi Modified Navy Plaque Index (RMNPI). At Day 30, a pre- and post-cleaning plaque assessment will be performed to assess plaque removal immediately following the use of the assigned oral care regimen (brushing only or electric flosser + brushing).

Prior to each exam visit, participants will refrain from oral hygiene for 8 to 12 hours and will not eat or drink 30 minutes before the visit, except for small sips of water. Participants meeting study entrance criteria at the Baseline visit will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups:

  1. Control Group (Brushing only): Twice daily brushing for two minutes with a standard, flat trim manual soft toothbrush (Oral-B Indicator 35) and Crest Cavity Protection 0.24% sodium fluoride toothpaste.
  2. Investigational Group: Electric Flosser + Brushing: Once daily use of the electric flosser and twice daily brushing for two minutes with the manual toothbrush and sodium fluoride toothpaste.

Participants will be provided with verbal and written instructions on the use of their assigned oral care regimen. The first product use will be performed at the clinical site under the supervision of study personnel. Participants assigned to the manual toothbrush will be instructed to brush in their usual manner for two minutes. Participants will dispense a full ribbon of toothpaste and brush once in the morning after breakfast and once in the evening before bedtime. Each participant will receive a timer to assist with compliance with the two-minute brushing. If assigned to the Flaus electric flosser + toothbrushing regimen, participants will brush twice daily for two minutes in their usual manner and will use the Flaus electric flosser each evening before brushing to clean all interdental spaces, including distal of the last tooth in each quadrant. Before brushing each evening: participants will select the speed mode, hold the handle and guide the flosser between their teeth, moving gently along the gumline in an up-and-down motion. Participants will use the time needed to floss all teeth. During the study, participants will refrain from using any oral care products other than the products provided to them and will avoid the use of chewing gums and mints.

All participants will be allowed to perform their home care routine in front of a mirror to assist with proper placement of the flosser between teeth. Participants will be reminded to maintain the daily diary to document compliance with the use of their assigned regimen. Following the Baseline exams, participants will return at Day 15 and Day 30 for the same assessments for oral safety, gingival inflammation, bleeding, and supragingival plaque.

02

Conditions studied

  • Gingivitis
  • Gingival Bleeding
  • Dental Plaque

Keywords

  • dental plaque
  • gingivitis
  • gingival bleeding
  • randomized, parallel design
  • flosser
  • manual toothbrush
03

In context

Gingivitis

631 studies on the registry are indexed under Gingivitis; 107 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 80 is above the median of 66 across 507 interventional studies indexed under Gingivitis.

Browse Gingivitis studies →

Lead sponsor

Flaus, Inc is the lead sponsor of 2 studies on the registry; 2 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 70 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  1. Provide a signed and dated document indicating that the participant has been informed of all pertinent aspects of the study before any assessment is performed.
  2. Be generally healthy at least 18 to 70 years of age, at the signing of the informed consent
  3. Biological sex at birth was male or female.
  4. Be regular manual toothbrush users and able to brush their own teeth daily.
  5. Willing and able to comply with scheduled visits, study restrictions, (Lifestyle Considerations) and other study procedures.
  6. A participant in good general and mental health, in the opinion of the investigator or medically qualified designee; no and relevant abnormalities in medical history or upon oral examination.
  7. Be willing to refrain from all oral hygiene for approximately 8-12 hours before each study visit and discontinue eating and drinking for approximately 30 minutes before each study visit, except for sips of water.
  8. Be willing and able to refrain from dental treatment during the course of the study, except on an emergency basis.
  9. Have sufficient motor skills to perform interdental cleaning.
  10. Willing to use only the test products provided during the 30-day study.
  11. For the duration of the study, willing to refrain from the use of any non-study-related products, especially dental floss, all interdental cleaning aids, mouthrinses, and anti-plaque/anti-gingivitis products.
  12. Participant's oral health meets all of the following:

    Screening Visit:

  13. A participant with good dental health based on medical history and oral soft tissue examination at screening.
  14. No significant oral soft tissue pathology based on a visual examination.
  15. Have at least 20 natural teeth with scorable facial and lingual proximal surfaces.

    The following will not be included in the scorable tooth count: third molars, teeth that are fully crowned/extensively restored, grossly carious, orthodontically banded/bonded or abutment teeth, teeth exhibiting general cervical abrasion and/or enamel abrasion, calculus deposits, and extrinsic tooth stain which, in the opinion of the clinical examiner, would interfere with the assessments.

  16. Has mild to moderate plaque-induced gingivitis in the opinion of the clinical examiner, based on a gross assessment of gingival health (review of gingival inflammation, probing measurements and bleeding on probing) to avoid inclusion of participants with ≥ 30% of teeth with Stages II-IV periodontal disease.

    Baseline Visit:

  17. Present with a mean gingival index score ≥ 1.75 according to the Modified Gingival Index and at least 20% interdental bleeding on probing (BOP) sites.
  18. Participant presents with a mean proximal plaque index score ≥ 0.6 according to the Rustogi Modified Navy Plaque Index (RMNPI), following an 8 to 12-hour plaque accumulation period.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. An employee of the site, either directly involved in the conduct of the study or a member of their immediate family; or an employee of the investigational site otherwise supervised by the investigator.
  2. Have participated in any study involving oral care products, concurrently or within the 30 days of baseline exams.
  3. Require antibiotic premedication before dental procedures.
  4. Self-reported serious medical conditions.
  5. If female, pregnant or lactating since these conditions can impact the gingivitis assessments.
  6. Currently taking a systemic medication (e.g., anti-inflammatory, anti-coagulant, ) or traditional/ herbal remedy which, in the opinion of the Investigator, could affect plaque/ gingival condition (e.g., ibuprofen, aspirin, warfarin, cyclosporin, phenytoin, calcium channel blockers).
  7. Have had antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-coagulant medication or chemotherapeutic antiplaque/antigingivitis therapy within 14days of screening exams.
  8. Has been diagnosed with xerostomia or is taking any medication that in the view of the investigator is causing xerostomia.
  9. Currently using any form of tobacco products (such as smoked, smokeless, and electronic nicotine delivery systems, cigarettes, cigars, hookahs, pipe tobacco, snuff, snus, chewing tobacco, nicotine pouch or dissolvable products).
  10. Currently using any cannabis product via smoking, vaping or dabbing.
  11. Currently active orthodontic treatment (e.g., orthodontic banding, fixed or removable appliances (including Invisalign type appliances).
  12. Daily wears a night guard or other such device for bruxism or TMJ disorder.
  13. A history of adverse effects, oral soft or hard tissue sensitivity, to any ingredient in the test materials.
  14. Using an antibacterial dentifrice or mouthwash (e.g., chlorhexidine, Cetylpyridinium chloride, fixed combination of essential oils mouthwash, stannous fluoride) or any oral care product that in the view of the investigator could interfere with plaque formation or measures of gingivitis, in the period between the Screening and the Baseline visits.
  15. Exhibits ≥ 30% of teeth with stage II - IV periodontitis, according to the American Academy of Periodontology revised classification system for periodontal and peri-implant diseases and conditions,21 at screening and/or baseline visit, or being actively treated for periodontal disease, and has more than three teeth with periodontal pocket depths measuring more than 5 mm.
  16. Presence of a tongue or lip piercing, or any other oral feature that could interfere with the usage of a toothbrush or floss product.
  17. Presence of supragingival calculus or extrinsic tooth stain that can impede the visual assessment of gingivitis and plaque, at the clinical examiner's discretion.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(4)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Clinically significant

Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.

Investigational drug or device

A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.

It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.

Immunosuppression

A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.

Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
80 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo Comparator: Manual Toothbrush Control Group

    Flat-trim, soft bristle manual toothbrush

    Device: Manual toothbrush

  • Active comparator
    Active Comparator: Test Group Electric Flosser + Manual Toothbrush

    Electric Flosser + Manual Toothbrush, flosser used once each evening before toothbrushing with manual toothbrush for two minutes

    Device: Device: Electric Flosser · Device: Manual toothbrush

Interventions

  • DeviceDevice: Electric Flosser

    Electric flosser, interdental cleaning device

  • DeviceManual toothbrush

    Soft manual toothbrush used twice daily for two minutes

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Reduction from Baseline in proximal Modified Gingival Index (MGI) scores at Day 30

    Description: Modified Gingival Index (MGI) is a noninvasive, visual assessment of gingival inflammation. Each tooth will be scored in six areas (disto-buccal, mid-buccal and mesio-buccal, disto-lingual, mid-lingual and mesio-lingual) of all scorable teeth using a scale of 0 - 4: 0 = Normal (absence of inflammation), 1 = Mild inflammation (slight change in color, little change in texture) of any portion of the marginal or papillary gingival unit, 2 = Mild inflammation of the entire gingival unit, 3 = Moderate inflammation (moderate glazing, redness, edema, and/or hypertrophy) of the gingival unit, 4 = Severe inflammation (marked redness and edema/hypertrophy, spontaneous bleeding, or ulceration) of the gingival unit.

    Time frame: Baseline and Day 30

  2. Reduction from Baseline in proximal Bleeding on Probing (BOP) at Day 30

    Each of six gingival areas (disto-buccal, mid-buccal and mesio-buccal, disto-lingual, mid-lingual and mesio-lingual) of the scorable teeth will be probed in a similar manner, recording the number of gingival units which bleed within 30 seconds, according to the following scale: 0 = absence of bleeding 1 = bleeding observed

    Time frame: Baseline and Day 30

  3. Change from Day 30 pre-cleaning to Day 30 post-cleaning proximal Rustogi Modified Navy Plaque Index (RMNPI) Scores at Day 30

    A red disclosing solution will be used to make plaque visible and improve scoring accuracy. Plaque will be quantified on nine sites per facial and lingual tooth surface. Each tooth surface will be divided into 9 sites, for a total of 18 sites per tooth (A to I facial with 9 sites and lingual with 9 sites); A to C along gingival margin; D to F directly above A to C (D and F being proximal areas); G to H across middle of tooth; and I covered incisal coverage. Plaque will be scored as 0 = Absent or 1 = Present in each area. A mean plaque index (RMNPI) will be calculated for each participant on a whole-mouth basis (areas A-I) and separately for the gingival margin (areas A, B, C) and proximal regions (areas D, F).

    Time frame: Day 30, pre-cleaning and post-cleaning

Secondary outcomes

  1. Reduction from Baseline in MGI Proximal, Gumline and Whole Mouth scores at Day 15

    Modified Gingival Index (MGI) is a noninvasive, visual assessment of gingival inflammation. Each tooth will be scored in six areas (disto-buccal, mid-buccal and mesio-buccal, disto-lingual, mid-lingual and mesio-lingual) of all scorable teeth using a scale of 0 - 4: 0 = Normal (absence of inflammation), 1 = Mild inflammation (slight change in color, little change in texture) of any portion of the marginal or papillary gingival unit, 2 = Mild inflammation of the entire gingival unit, 3 = Moderate inflammation (moderate glazing, redness, edema, and/or hypertrophy) of the gingival unit, 4 = Severe inflammation (marked redness and edema/hypertrophy, spontaneous bleeding, or ulceration) of the gingival unit.

    Time frame: Baseline and Day 15

  2. Reduction in Bleeding on Probing (BOP) proximal, gumline and whole mouth scores at Day 15

    Each of six gingival areas (disto-buccal, mid-buccal and mesio-buccal, disto-lingual, mid-lingual and mesio-lingual) of the scorable teeth will be probed in a similar manner, recording the number of gingival units which bleed within 30 seconds, according to the following scale: 0 = absence of bleeding 1 = bleeding observed

    Time frame: Baseline and Day 15

  3. Reduction from Baseline in RMNPI proximal, gumline and whole mouth scores at Day 15

    A red disclosing solution will be used to make plaque visible and improve scoring accuracy. Plaque will be quantified on nine sites per facial and lingual tooth surface. Each tooth surface will be divided into 9 sites, for a total of 18 sites per tooth (A to I facial with 9 sites and lingual with 9 sites); A to C along gingival margin; D to F directly above A to C (D and F being proximal areas); G to H across middle of tooth; and I covered incisal coverage. Plaque will be scored as 0 = Absent or 1 = Present in each area. A mean plaque index (RMNPI) will be calculated for each participant on a whole-mouth basis (areas A-I) and separately for the gingival margin (areas A, B, C) and proximal regions (areas D, F).

    Time frame: Baseline and Day 15

  4. Reduction from Baseline in pre-cleaning proximal, gumline and whole mouth RMNPI scores at Day 30.

    A red disclosing solution will be used to make plaque visible and improve scoring accuracy. Plaque will be quantified on nine sites per facial and lingual tooth surface. Each tooth surface will be divided into 9 sites, for a total of 18 sites per tooth (A to I facial with 9 sites and lingual with 9 sites); A to C along gingival margin; D to F directly above A to C (D and F being proximal areas); G to H across middle of tooth; and I covered incisal coverage. Plaque will be scored as 0 = Absent or 1 = Present in each area. A mean plaque index (RMNPI) will be calculated for each participant on a whole-mouth basis (areas A-I) and separately for the gingival margin (areas A, B, C) and proximal regions (areas D, F).

    Time frame: Time Frame: Baseline and Day 30

  5. Change from pre-cleaning to post-cleaning Rustogi Modified Navy Plaque Index (RMNPI) gumline and whole mouth scores at Day 30

    A red disclosing solution will be used to make plaque visible and improve scoring accuracy. Plaque will be quantified on nine sites per facial and lingual tooth surface. Each tooth surface will be divided into 9 sites, for a total of 18 sites per tooth (A to I facial with 9 sites and lingual with 9 sites); A to C along gingival margin; D to F directly above A to C (D and F being proximal areas); G to H across middle of tooth; and I covered incisal coverage. Plaque will be scored as 0 = Absent or 1 = Present in each area. A mean plaque index (RMNPI) will be calculated for each participant on a whole-mouth basis (areas A-I) and separately for the gingival margin (areas A, B, C) and proximal regions (areas D, F).

    Time frame: Day 30, pre-cleaning and post-cleaning

  6. Reduction from Baseline in MGI Gumline and Whole Mouth scores at Day 30

    Modified Gingival Index (MGI) is a noninvasive, visual assessment of gingival inflammation. Each tooth will be scored in six areas (disto-buccal, mid-buccal and mesio-buccal, disto-lingual, mid-lingual and mesio-lingual) of all scorable teeth using a scale of 0 - 4: 0 = Normal (absence of inflammation), 1 = Mild inflammation (slight change in color, little change in texture) of any portion of the marginal or papillary gingival unit, 2 = Mild inflammation of the entire gingival unit, 3 = Moderate inflammation (moderate glazing, redness, edema, and/or hypertrophy) of the gingival unit, 4 = Severe inflammation (marked redness and edema/hypertrophy, spontaneous bleeding, or ulceration) of the gingival unit.

    Time frame: Baseline and Day 30

  7. Reduction from Baseline in Bleeding on Probing (BOP) gumline and whole mouth scores at Day 30

    Each of six gingival areas (disto-buccal, mid-buccal and mesio-buccal, disto-lingual, mid-lingual and mesio-lingual) of the scorable teeth will be probed in a similar manner, recording the number of gingival units which bleed within 30 seconds, according to the following scale: 0 = absence of bleeding 1 = bleeding observed.

    Time frame: Baseline and Day 30

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Therametric Technologies, Inc.
    Noblesville, Indiana 46060, United States
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 4, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07805148
Lead sponsor
Flaus, Inc
Collaborators
Therametric Technologies Inc.
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Sep 4, 2026
Start date
Aug 31, 2026 (estimated)
Primary completion
Oct 22, 2026 (estimated)
Completion
Oct 22, 2026 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 4, 2026

Study contacts

Prerna Gopal, BDS, PhD
Contact
pgopal@therametric.com
513-377-7095

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Sep 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion