Laboratory evaluations of interproximal access of two differently bristled manual toothbrushes.

The Colgate Rippled Bristles toothbrush was compared to the Oral-B 40 toothbrush using a laboratory device which simulates horizontal and vertical brushing movements under pressures of 250, 500 and 750 grams. Interproximal access was determined by measuring the width of the brushing stroke on pressure-sensitive paper surrounding anterior or posterior tooth shapes. The Colgate Rippled toothbrush was consistently superior to the Oral-B 40 toothbrush in accomplishing interproximal access in the laboratory tests performed here. On anterior-shaped teeth, the superiority (p < 0.05-0.01) was evident at all pressures tested, with both horizontal and vertical brushing movements. On posterior tooth shapes the Colgate Rippled toothbrush was superior (p < 0.01) to the Oral-B 40 toothbrush at all brushing weights and with both vertical and horizontal motions. When total interproximal access efficacy means were calculated for all brushing weights, the Colgate Rippled toothbrush was superior (p < 0.05-0.01) to the Oral-B 40 toothbrush on both anterior and posterior tooth shapes in the vertical and horizontal brushing motions.