Qualitative and quantitative assay of microbial contamination of tooth brushes stored in different sanitary settings

Background: Microbial contamination was not given any attention while recommending the frequency for change of toothbrush. Aim: To qualitatively and quantitatively assess the tooth brushes preserved in different sanitary settings for microbial contamination. Materials and method: The study was conducted on thirty participants preserving their tooth brushes in three different sanitary settings (outside the bathroom, within the bathroom without attached toilets, and within the bathroom with attached toilets). In each group, five participants were healthy and other five were having mild to moderate periodontitis. The tooth brush samples were collected after one month from their households and subjected to qualitative and quantitative assay of microorganisms. The data from different groups were compared using chi-square test and t-test. Results: The tooth brushes stored outside the bathrooms demonstrated the presence of Candida, Streptococci, Klebsiella, Staphylococcus aureus and Lactobacillus. Pseudomonas, Candida, Streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus and Lactobacillus were demonstrable in the tooth brush samples collected from participants who stored their brush in bathrooms without attached toilets. Pseudomonas, Candida, Streptococci, Klebsiella, Staphylococcus aureus, Lactobacillus, Proteus and E.coli were demonstrable in the tooth brush samples collected from both healthy and diseased participants who preserved their brush in bathrooms with attached toilets. Conclusion: The tooth brushes preserved in unsanitary conditions can be a source of contamination and call for proper preservation of tooth brush. Homecare procedures such as air drying, dipping the tooth brush in salt water and use of portable sanitizers may be advised by dentists as part of routine oral hygiene instructions.