For oral health, it is an important issue to keep 
and, if deteriorated, to improve salivary secretion. 
Although mechanical stimulation in chewing and 
masticating bolus induces the salivary secretion, it is not 
well-known which sites in oral cavity are effectively 
stimulated. The present study was designed to investigate 
the effective sites in the cavity to the mechanical brushing 
stimulation to induce parotid saliva in human subjects. 
Parotid saliva was collected using a modified Lashley cup. 
Saliva secretion was induced by brushing, with normal 
toothbrush, of the palatal gingival margin of molars, 
ipsilateral and contralateral to the cup. The occlusal 
surface of the molars, the gingiva, the palatal rugae, and 
the tongue were also stimulated by the brushing. Salivary 
secretion from gingival margins of ipsilateral maxillary 
and mandibular molars showed comparatively higher rates 
among them. This indicates that mechanical brushing 
stimulation of the gingival margin of molars is effective to 
secrete parotid
 saliva,
 possibly
 activating 
mechanoreceptors in the mucosa and the periodontal 
ligament. These may provide beneficial information to 
improve salivary secretion in oral rehabilitation. 

Keywords: Brushing; Parotid Saliva Flow Rate; 
Mechanoreceptor; Human