Long term evaluation of macroscopic characteristics of some Iranian and foreign toothbrushes before and after use

ABSTRACT

The increasing use of foreign toothbrushes along with their higher prices in comparison with Iranian toothbrushes has made us to perform this study in order to evaluate macroscopic characteristics of ten types of toothbrushes Laleh, Mina, Jarda, Jourdan, AlFalij, Dr.Best, Oral-B, Butler and Crest before and after 1, 2 and 3 months using. This experimental study was carried out on 240 students [12 years old girls], of Shahid Beheshti school with observation and questionnaire as its technique. The students were divided to 10 groups according to 10 kinds of toothbrushes. They used the toothbrushes for 1,2 and 3 months. Finally, the toothbrushes were gathered and their bristles were evaluated. Tests [Analysis of variance, Tukey and chi square] showed that all the toothbrushes except of Laleh, Mina and Oral-B were in the range of standard. Laleh and Mina toothbrushes just in the bristle-less edge and Oral-B in the size of toothbrush head were out of standard range. There was a significant difference between the end roundness of different toothbrushes and between the changes of bristles after 1, 2, 3 month application [P<0.001]. Satisfaction of using and end roundness among foreign toothbrushes was more than Iranian toothbrushes