Improper disinfection and storage of toothbrushes can increase the likelihood of the transmission of microorganisms. Now, researchers from the U.S. have found that even the design of toothbrushes can contribute to cross-contamination. In a comparative study of electric toothbrushes with different brush head designs, they found that toothbrushes with a solid head retained less bacteria compared with hollow-head electric toothbrushes.
In the study, participants brushed their teeth twice a day with one of three randomly assigned electric toothbrushes. They used nonantimicrobial toothpaste and continued their flossing routine, but did not use any other oral health care products, such as mouthwash. The brush heads were exposed to five commonly occurring oral microorganisms, including oral streptococci and Fusobacterium species.
After a period of three weeks, the researchers noted that microbial counts were significantly lower in the solid-head toothbrush group than in the hollow-head toothbrush group in nine in ten comparisons.
"The packaging on most electric toothbrushes won't distinguish between a hollow-head and a solid-head design," said Dr. Donna Warren Morris, lead author and professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. "The best way to identify a solid-head design is through the connection to the body of the toothbrush. Naturally, there will be some space to connect the two parts but a significant partition will be solid, up to the bristles or brush head."
Although there is currently no scientific evidence that bacterial growth on toothbrushes can lead to systemic health effects, Morris stated that some microorganisms have been associated with systemic diseases, such as colorectal cancer and cardiovascular disease.
The study, titled "Microbial Contamination of Power Toothbrushes: A Comparison of Solid-Head Versus Hollow-Head Designs," was published in the August issue of the Journal of Dental Hygiene.
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