Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of electric or manual toothbrush in plaque removing and gingivitis control on visually impaired students.Methods A randomized,controlled,examiner-blind crossover design was used in the study,which was conducted with the 1998 American Dental Association(ADA)guidelines for Acceptance of Toothbrushes.Subjects were 12-16 years old visually impaired students of School for the Blind of Guangzhou.Students in test group used electric toothbrush,while control group used a same brand manual toothbrush.This study consisted of two stages; plaque and gingivitis were recorded at baseline,2 weeks and 4 weeks of each stage.42 visually impaired students were recruited in the study at baseline of first stage.Quigley-Hein plague index(PlI)and Loe and Silness gingival index(GI)were used.Analysis of Variance and t-test were used for statistical analysis.Results 33 visually impaired students finished the study,including 23 boys and 10 girls.The mean age was 13.9 years old.There was no significant difference between the two groups on PlI and GI at baseline.PlI values of test group were 2.19 and 2.05 at 2 weeks and 4 weeks,while control group were 2.56 and 2.48.PlI value of test group was significant different compared with control group(P<0.05).GI values of test group were 0.83 and 0.73 at 2 weeks and 4 weeks,while control group were 0.99 and 0.94.GI value of test group was significant different compared with control group(P<0.05).Conclusions Compared to a same brand manual toothbrush,electric toothbrush was more efficient in plaque removing and gingivitis control among visually impaired students.