Contaminated Toothbrush: Potential Threat to Oral and General Health

Toothbrushes which are important tool for maintaining oral hygiene daily can also hasten the growth of microorganisms if residues remain on the bristles. Toothbrush disinfection has received little attention which necessitates for disinfection methods which are rapidly efficacious, cost-effective, non-toxic and that can be executed easily.

The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of easily available disinfectants on toothbrush contamination.

A total of 20 samples were randomly divided into 4 groups, in which 5 samples were included in each group i.e. control group: saline solution and test group: 5 each in 0.2% chlorhexidine solution, 2% betadine solution, and vinegar respectively. Regularly used toothbrush from all the participants were dipped in double sterile distilled water to obtain the colony count pre-disinfection. Toothbrushes were then dipped in the test and control solution for 10 minutes, and were thereafter dipped in double sterile distilled water to obtain the colony count post-disinfection. The solution then obtained was cultured and analysed for colony forming units.

Data analysis was done using SPSS version 16.0. Mann Whitney test was used to compare mean values of CFU after disinfection with different disinfectants.

There were statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) between the groups (Groups 2, 3 and 4) of all of the tested methods for the microorganisms. The maximum reduction was seen in betadine group (mean = 0.03 x 103), followed by chlorhexidine (mean=0.17 x 103) and vinegar group (mean=0.2 x 103).

From the results that were obtained, it could be inferred that an easily applicable substitute for the disinfection of toothbrushes are on counter-solutions based on the betadine test.