Abstract
The stimulative effects on blood flow after interdental papillary massage by a toothpick [Dentalpick ® (Koeisha, Osaka) : Toothpick K] compared with an interdental brush were evaluated by a laser Doppler flowmeter using 22 subjects. The values of blood flow before and after massage with toothpick K were 16.0 ± 6.5 and 19.5 ± 5.7 (ALF value), while those before and after massage with an interdental brush were 15.2 + 5.9 and 18.1 ± 4.7 (ALF value). There were significant differences between before and after massage with both supplementary cleaning instruments (p<0.05). Furthermore, the correlation coefficient (r) of the value of blood flow between before and after massage for individual subjects with a toothpick K was 0.83 (p<0.05). These results suggest that toothpick K has the same capability as that of an interdental brush and every subject after massage had a raised value parallel with the value before massage.
