Description of a new laboratory evaluation method of interdental brush abrasion as a clinical hazard.

Objectives: To simulate the abrasive potential of an interdental brush when applied with toothpastes and prophylactic gels/solutions in a novel laboratory brushing simulation set-up.

Methods: A brushing device was customized to treat dentin samples mimicking a simplified interdental space with an interdental brush (ISO 2). The brushing, that is, 7200 strokes for 1 h, was performed with artificial saliva (control), a povidone-iodine solution, and slurries of chlorhexidine and fluoride gels as well as three toothpastes with different RDA values ranging from 29 to 100, respectively.