Your charts — full explanation
The relationship between bleeding and plaque, and the background on why charts work as a motivator.
Two charts — one story
On your dashboard you see two lines over time: the bleeding score and the plaque score. They are separate, but together they tell one story: how your oral hygiene is developing.
The two lines are deliberately not merged into a single total score — they measure different things, respond differently to behaviour change, and each gives different advice about what you can do.
The relationship between the two charts
Bleeding and plaque are closely related, but each responds to different behaviour:
Bleeding score falls through interdental cleaning
Bleeding gums are caused by bacteria accumulating in the gaps between teeth — places the toothbrush cannot reach. The most effective way to reduce your bleeding score is daily interdental cleaning with brushes, picks or floss. Bleeding typically decreases noticeably after just 7 days of consistent use.
Plaque score falls through better brushing
Plaque on the outer tooth surfaces is removed by the toothbrush. A higher plaque score indicates missed spots, insufficient time, or less effective technique. An electric toothbrush reduces plaque scores by an average of 21% compared to manual brushing (in studies over 3 months).
Both fall — you're doing it completely right
When both lines fall, you're combining good brushing with daily interdental cleaning. This is the goal: a bleeding and plaque score of 20% or less.
One falls, the other doesn't — no panic
That's useful information. If the bleeding score falls but plaque remains high, your interdental cleaning is already improving but brushing technique can still improve. The reverse: plaque low but bleeding still high? Then brushing is doing its job, but interdental cleaning is the missing piece.
Why charts work — the psychology
Charts are not just informative — they are motivating. Why? Three mechanisms from behavioural science explain this:
1. Autonomy — you choose yourself
The chart shows what you have achieved, through your own choices. Nobody imposed a target score or told you what to do. That ownership — the sense that the improvement comes from you — is one of the most powerful motivators for lasting behaviour change.
Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985): autonomy is a basic psychological need. Interventions that support autonomy lead to more durable behaviour change.
2. Relatedness — you see your own story
A number on its own says little. But a line that consistently falls over four weeks — that is your story. Visual feedback about personal progress activates engagement: you are no longer a passive recipient of information, but an active participant watching your own results grow.
Research on self-monitoring (Burke et al., 2011) shows that people who measure and see their own health behaviour achieve significantly better outcomes than those who do not.
3. Competence — you learn that you can do it
From 70% bleeding to 30% in four weeks — that is not abstract. That is proof that you can do this. Each falling measurement increases the sense of competence: "this works, and I'm doing it well." That feeling is the best guarantee that the new habit will stick, even after day 28.
Bandura's self-efficacy theory (1977): the belief that one can do something (based on personal experience) is the strongest predictor of perseverance in behaviour change.
mijngebit.info and Self-Determination Theory
Self-Determination Theory (SDT, Deci & Ryan) states that lasting behaviour change only occurs when three basic needs are met: autonomy (own choice), relatedness (connection to the goal) and competence (the feeling that one can do it). mijngebit.info is deliberately built so that all three are supported: you choose yourself, you see your own progress, and you build proven success.
What you can see in the chart
Hover over a data point
The Data Display panel on the right shows all data for that measurement: bleeding score, plaque score, toothbrush type, interdental cleaning use, and brushing frequency.
Line style of the brushing frequency chart
A solid line = electric toothbrush. A dashed line = manual toothbrush. This makes it immediately visible whether switching to an electric toothbrush influenced your scores.
Traffic light colour per score
Green (0–20%), yellow (30–40%), orange (50–60%), red (70%+). At a glance you can see which zone you are in.
Questions about your charts?
Every mouth is different. Do you see something in your charts that you don't understand or that concerns you? Contact your dentist or hygienist — they know your specific situation.
Sources
Deci, E.L. & Ryan, R.M. (1985). Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Determination in Human Behavior. Plenum Press.
Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review, 84(2), 191–215.
Burke, L.E., et al. (2011). Self-monitoring in weight loss: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 111(1), 92–102.
Yaacob, M., et al. (2014). Powered versus manual toothbrushing for oral health. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews — electric toothbrush reduces plaque score by an average of 21% and gingivitis by 11% after 3 months.
mijngebit.info is not a medical device. If in doubt, consult your dentist.