Comparative laboratory evaluation of three toothbrushes regarding interproximal access efficacy

A new toothbrush from the Colgate-Palmolive Company, called the Colgate Precision toothbrush, was compared to the Oral-B 40 toothbrush and Reach Full-Head soft toothbrush using a laboratory device designed to simulate clinical toothbrushing motions and pressures. The toothbrushing time was sixty seconds for each vertical or horizontal brushing motion and for each of the three brushing weights tested, 250, 500 or 750 grams. Interproximal access efficacy was determined by measuring the maximum width of the brushing stroke measured on pressure sensitive paper placed around the simulated anterior or posterior teeth. Twenty-four toothbrushes of each design were evaluated for each toothbrushing motion, tooth shape and toothbrushing weight for a total of 864 measurements. In all studies conducted, the Colgate Precision toothbrush had statistically superior total interproximal access efficacy scores compared to the Oral-B and Reach toothbrushes. In several assessments the Reach toothbrush was superior to the Oral-B 40 toothbrush.