<![CDATA[Gingivitis is an inflammatory condition associated with microbial biofilm accumulation. Scaling and root planing (SRP) is an effective therapy for reducing microbial load; however, bacterial recolonization may occur after treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of toothbrush replacement as an adjunctive home-care intervention after SRP on salivary Streptococcus sanguinis levels in patients with gingivitis. This experimental study used a pretest–posttest intervention design involving 36 gingivitis patients divided into control and intervention groups (18 subjects each). All participants received SRP, while the intervention group received a new toothbrush after SRP. Clinical parameters, including Gingival Index (GI) and Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S), and salivary S. sanguinis levels were evaluated before and after intervention. Saliva samples were analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Both groups showed significant improvements in GI and OHI-S after SRP (p < 0.001). The mean salivary S. sanguinis level in the control group decreased from 4.94 ± 0.13 to 4.93 ± 0.12 (Δ -0.01; p = 0.863), while the intervention group decreased from 4.83 ± 0.23 to 4.76 ± 0.14 (Δ -0.07; p = 0.367). Post-intervention analysis demonstrated a significantly lower S. sanguinis level in the toothbrush replacement group compared with the control group (4.76 ± 0.14 vs. 4.93 ± 0.12; mean difference = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.07–0.26; p = 0.001). Toothbrush replacement following SRP may provide additional benefits in controlling microbial colonization and supporting periodontal health maintenance in patients with gingivitis.]]>
