IADR Abstract Archives
A Comparison between the Microbial Populations on Air-Dried Uncovered Toothbrushes Rinsed in Tap Water, Chlorhexidine, and Covered Toothbrushes Under Uv Light Storage
Objectives: To determine ways of proper toothbrush storage to prolong its shelf life and reduce microbial population after use.
Methods: Blood and nutrient agar plates were used to determine the amount of microbial growth on three methods of cleaning and storing toothbrush (tap water, UV light and 0.2 % Chlorhexidine gluconate solution).The result of specimen in Blood agar plates was quantified in terms of CFU and Growth Quantitation was used to describe the result in Nutrient Agar specimens. The study was performed for 31 days, wherein the subjects’ toothbrushes were exposed to: A.) Tap water for 10 days; B.) UV Light Sterilizer for 10 days; and C). Chlorhexidine for another 10 days. The toothbrushes were collected and cultured for every 5 days.
Results: For Blood Agar, Chlorhexidine solution had shown least amount of microbial growth (Day 5: 0 CFU; Day 10: 400 CFU). On the other hand, Toothbrush subjected to tap water had shown the highest growth (Day 5: 444,800 CFU; Day 10: 940,000 CFU) followed by UV light stored specimen (Day 5: 25,667 CFU; Day 10: 29,000 CFU). For Nutrient Agar, Clorhexidine had shown least amount of microbial growth (Day 5: 86.67% of the specimen showed no growth; Day 10: 40% -no growth) while a significant microbial growth were observed in Tap water and UV Light (Day 5: 66.67% of the specimen showed heavy growth; Day 10: 93.33% -heavy growth) and UV Light ( Day 5: 53.33% -heavy growth; Day 10: 73.33% -heavy growth)
Conclusions: 0.2% Chlorhexidine gluconate is the best toothbrush cleaning agent.
Methods: Blood and nutrient agar plates were used to determine the amount of microbial growth on three methods of cleaning and storing toothbrush (tap water, UV light and 0.2 % Chlorhexidine gluconate solution).The result of specimen in Blood agar plates was quantified in terms of CFU and Growth Quantitation was used to describe the result in Nutrient Agar specimens. The study was performed for 31 days, wherein the subjects’ toothbrushes were exposed to: A.) Tap water for 10 days; B.) UV Light Sterilizer for 10 days; and C). Chlorhexidine for another 10 days. The toothbrushes were collected and cultured for every 5 days.
Results: For Blood Agar, Chlorhexidine solution had shown least amount of microbial growth (Day 5: 0 CFU; Day 10: 400 CFU). On the other hand, Toothbrush subjected to tap water had shown the highest growth (Day 5: 444,800 CFU; Day 10: 940,000 CFU) followed by UV light stored specimen (Day 5: 25,667 CFU; Day 10: 29,000 CFU). For Nutrient Agar, Clorhexidine had shown least amount of microbial growth (Day 5: 86.67% of the specimen showed no growth; Day 10: 40% -no growth) while a significant microbial growth were observed in Tap water and UV Light (Day 5: 66.67% of the specimen showed heavy growth; Day 10: 93.33% -heavy growth) and UV Light ( Day 5: 53.33% -heavy growth; Day 10: 73.33% -heavy growth)
Conclusions: 0.2% Chlorhexidine gluconate is the best toothbrush cleaning agent.