Effect of a single-use toothbrush on plaque microflora.
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-139763
ABSTRACT
Aim:
To study and compare the microbial flora of dental plaque after the use of a self-contaminated toothbrush and that of a single-use toothbrush. Materials andMethods:
The study group included 40 young volunteers from Yenepoya Dental College, who were free from any systemic or oral disease. In these subjects, plaque samples were collected after 1 month use of a self-contaminated toothbrush. Each subject was given a set of 30 new toothbrushes and a toothpaste tube and instructed to use one toothbrush everyday and discard it after use. The plaque samples were collected on a weekly interval and cultured on Mitis Salivarius agar. The colonies were identified and speciated and their count was recorded.Results:
Streptococcus mitis, S. mutans, S. sanguis, S. milleri and Candida were recovered from the samples. A highly significant decrease in their numbers was found after the use of a single-use toothbrush (P value 0.001).Conclusions:
As a contaminated toothbrush can reintroduce microorganisms into the oral cavity, it may be a sound practice to change the toothbrush as frequently as possible.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Streptococcus
/
Streptococcus mutans
/
Streptococcus sanguis
/
Toothbrushing
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Candida
/
Colony Count, Microbial
/
Adolescent
Language:
English
Year:
2009
Type:
Article
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