An intraindividual study was performed on 23 (15 male and 8 female) patients suffering from periodontal disease, in order to investigate the plaque‐removing ability of denial floss and of round, triangular and rectangular toothpicks. Only teeth in contact with neighbouring teeth and with open interdental spaces were included in the study. The plaque‐removing ability of the interdental aids used was registered by estimating the amount of plaque at the end of each experimental period (14 days) according to a modified Plaque Index (Silness & Löe 1964) in which plaque was registered on ten surfaces around each tooth. The results show that round and rectangular toothpicks remove plaque only from the buccal part of the proximal surfaces, but that triangular toothpicks and dental floss are effective on both the buccal and lingual parts of the proximal and axial surfaces.
Two intraindividual studies were performed on 35 persons treated for periodontal disease to investigate the plaque preventing effect of five different types of triangular toothpicks: Stim‐U‐Dent® (Balsa), Jordan® (Birch), Te‐Pe® (Lime), Sanodent® (Birch) and Alfa® (a polymeric one) and four toothpicks of which three were wooden of the same shape and one was polymeric with a similar shape: Birch, Lime, Limba (Jordan A/S), and polymer (Fixident). Only teeth in contact with neighboring ones and with open interdental spaces were included in the study. The plaque‐removing ability of the toothpicks was registered by estimating the amount of plaque accumulation at the end of each experimental period (2 weeks) according to a Plaque Index (Silness & Löe 1964) modified for plaque registration on 10 surfaces around each tooth. In a laboratory study, relevant properties of the toothpick material (modulous of elasticity, surface roughness, water absorbing capacity, surface hardness) were investigated and compared to the plaque preventing effect of the different triangular toothpicks. Using a questionnaire, the test person's opinions on the surfaces, sizes, forms and rigidities of the toothpicks also were examined. Minor differences were observed between the plaque‐removing ability of the different triangular toothpicks. No clear relations were observed between any of the properties of the toothpick materials, however, the surface hardness as well as the strength values of the toothpick materials seemed to be of importance. The conclusions of the present studies are that the plaque‐removing ability of a toothpick seems to be more dependent on the shape of the toothpick than on existing minor differences among the materials used for their manufacturing. Low surface hardness and high strength values seem to be of importance for interdental cleaning.
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