Source 33

AIM:
To follow-up, one year later, a double-blind, randomised study, which investigated the effect of regular brushing with dentifrices on the oral health of an economically disadvantaged rural population in Andhra Pradesh, India who were primarily users of traditional materials.
SUBJECTS:
150 of the original study population.
METHOD:
Examination to determine whether the improvements in oral health status and oral health behaviour (use of toothbrush and dentifrice), being unsupported, had been sustained since completion of the original study.
RESULTS:
Data analysis showed sustained, statistically significant improvements in gingival health as measured by gingival bleeding and plaque indices (GBI and PI) comparing users and non-users of toothbrushes and dentifrice in the original study (PI: p = 0.04; GBI: p = 0.03) and sustained use of toothbrushes and dentifrice by 60% of the subjects at follow-up one year later.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study shows a beneficial effect on oral hygiene indices following the introduction of toothbrushes and dentifrices to a community using traditional oral hygiene materials and sustainability of use of these materials with motivation and support. It may therefore be concluded that it is feasible to achieve significant use of conventional toothbrushes and toothpastes, with consequent major and sustained improvements in plaque control and gingival health in a disadvantaged population hitherto often considered as not amenable to conventional oral hygiene for cultural or economic reasons.

This article is amazing because this is partly what I will be looking into. It's not my main question, but something that I am more curious about. I wondered what attitude people would have to western care for oral health over their traditional oral hygiene. The other amazing part is that this community is economically disadvantaged, meaning they probably cannot afford other care or have not been instructed on proper oral hygiene. The other part that is outstanding is the modern methods improved oral health far better than traditional care. It shows that many people still use traditional treatment, especially in low income communities, and this in turn affects their oral hygiene habits and care.