Table 1 Subgroup results (mean ± SD) of experimental cleaning efficacy (ECE in %) and experimental cleaning forces (ECF in N) of all test products. Force of ten cleaning cycles (mean ± SD) for cleaning different types (isosceles triangle, convex, concave) and sizes (1.0 mm, 1.1 mm, 1.3 mm) of the interdental area (IDR) separated for the tested interdental brush (IDB) versus interdental rubber picks (IRP). The values in bold show statistically significant differences in intra- and intergroup comparisons

IDB

70.66 ± 7.71

45.25 ± 3.77

50.90 ± 6.40

47.77 ± 8.13^{a, c}

41.07 ± 3.88^b

41.99 ± 4.53^b

44.37 ± 4.40^{a, c}

35.52 ± 3.98^b

35.98 ± 4.73^{a, b}

IRP PHBa

n.a.

19.98 ± 2.47

n.a.

57.30 ± 4.43

14.52 ± 1.71^a

22.45 ± 3.21

35.89 ± 3.79

11.78 ± 1.78^a

15.69 ± 3.11

IRP PHBs

55.21 ± 4.54

14.83 ± 2.24^b

14.50 ± 1.55^{b, c}

48.53 ± 4.16^{a, c}

10.36 ± 2.44^{b, c}

13.27 ± 2.33^{b, c}

24.96 ± 2.65

8.65 ± 1.30^{b, c}

10.22 ± 1.63^b

IRP Vitis

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

16.44 ± 1.38^a

n.a.

42.51 ± 6.72^a

13.67 ± 2.39^a

28.35 ± 4.61^a

Experimental Cleaning Force (ECF in N)

IDR 1.0 mm

IDR 1.1 mm

IDR 1.3 mm

isosceles triangle

convex

concave

isosceles triangle

convex

concave

isosceles triangle

convex

concave

IDB

0.87 ± 0.04

0.61 ± 0.06^c

0.75 ± 0.09

0.79 ± 0.04

0.55 ± 0.06^{a, c}

0.67 ± 0.08

0.58 ± 0.04^{a, b}

0.42 ± 0.02 ^a

0.54 ± 0.05 ^{a, b}

IRP PHBa

n.a.

2.15 ± 0.26

n.a.

1.39 ± 0.20

1.74 ± 0.54

2.41 ± 0.39

0.52 ± 0.05^a

1.29 ± 0.41 ^b

1.41 ± 0.22 ^b

IRP PHBs

1.79 ± 0.24

0.99 ± 0.17

1.34 ± 0.19

1.02 ± 0.11^b

0.65 ± 0.08^a

0.93 ± 0.09^b

0.43 ± 0.05

0.37 ± 0.04 ^a

0.66 ± 0.11 ^a

IRP Vitis

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

2.54 ± 0.23

n.a.

1.63 ± 0.17^b

1.81 ± 0.22 ^b

2.45 ± 0.34