2022 Volume 43 Issue 2 Pages 90-100
It is important to select appropriate toothbrushes for persons with special needs. However, there is no objective functional index for toothbrush selection. In this study, we evaluated cleaning ability used an interproximal model for evaluating the function of the toothbrush. We used three kinds of toothbrushes : DS : flat profile with rounded-end bristles, SY : slim head with super-tapered bristles, and GR : large head with super-tapered bristles.
According to the results, the bristle tip angle of all toothbrushes was almost twice each head angle. As the head angle increased, the cleaning performance on flat areas decreased when brushing with DS, but the results were the opposite with SY and GR. In interproximal areas, the cleaning performance and distance of penetration were improved by increasing the head angle with all toothbrushes.
It is suggested that the type of bristle ends and toothbrush size should be considered when selecting a toothbrush for persons with special needs who have low brushing skills.
