Effectiveness of Alternative Methods for Toothbrush Disinfection: An In Vitro Study

Objective. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of alternative methods for toothbrush disinfection. Methods. Two-hundred eighty toothbrushes were included in the study. The toothbrushes were divided into 7 groups and were contaminated by standardized suspensions of Lactobacillus rhamnosus...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ilkay Peker, Gulcin Akca, Cigdem Sarikir, Meryem Toraman Alkurt, Irem Celik
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/726190
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850178427639824384
author Ilkay Peker
Gulcin Akca
Cigdem Sarikir
Meryem Toraman Alkurt
Irem Celik
author_facet Ilkay Peker
Gulcin Akca
Cigdem Sarikir
Meryem Toraman Alkurt
Irem Celik
author_sort Ilkay Peker
collection DOAJ
description Objective. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of alternative methods for toothbrush disinfection. Methods. Two-hundred eighty toothbrushes were included in the study. The toothbrushes were divided into 7 groups and were contaminated by standardized suspensions of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus), Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The following disinfectants were tested: 1% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 100% and 50% white vinegar, microwave (MW) oven, ultraviolet (UV) sanitizer, and mouth rinse-containing propolis (MCP). Data were analyzed with Kruskal Wallis and Dunn’s tests. Results. Statistically significant differences were found between different methods and control group for all tested bacteria. There were statistically significant differences between all test groups for all microorganisms. MW was the most effective for L. rhamnosus and 100% white vinegar was the most effective method for S. mutans and S. aureus. NaOCl was the most effective for E. coli. Conclusion. This study showed that 100% white vinegar was considered to be effective for tested microorganisms. Similarly, 1% NaOCl is cost-effective, easily accessible, and comparatively effective for toothbrush disinfection. Because these agents are nontoxic, cost-effective and easily accessible, they may be appropriate for household use.
format Article
id doaj-art-bbe9e30f08f14e8cb34f02ead65064d8
institution OA Journals
issn 2356-6140
1537-744X
language English
publishDate 2014-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series The Scientific World Journal
spelling doaj-art-bbe9e30f08f14e8cb34f02ead65064d82025-08-20T02:18:43ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal2356-61401537-744X2014-01-01201410.1155/2014/726190726190Effectiveness of Alternative Methods for Toothbrush Disinfection: An In Vitro StudyIlkay Peker0Gulcin Akca1Cigdem Sarikir2Meryem Toraman Alkurt3Irem Celik4Department of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Gazi University Faculty of Dentistry, 82 Sokak, No. 4, Emek, 06510 Ankara, TurkeyDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Gazi University Faculty of Dentistry, 82 Sokak, No. 4, Emek, 06510 Ankara, TurkeyDepartment of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Gazi University Faculty of Dentistry, 82 Sokak, No. 4, Emek, 06510 Ankara, TurkeyDepartment of Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, Gazi University Faculty of Dentistry, 82 Sokak, No. 4, Emek, 06510 Ankara, TurkeyDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Gazi University Faculty of Dentistry, 82 Sokak, No. 4, Emek, 06510 Ankara, TurkeyObjective. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of alternative methods for toothbrush disinfection. Methods. Two-hundred eighty toothbrushes were included in the study. The toothbrushes were divided into 7 groups and were contaminated by standardized suspensions of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus), Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The following disinfectants were tested: 1% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 100% and 50% white vinegar, microwave (MW) oven, ultraviolet (UV) sanitizer, and mouth rinse-containing propolis (MCP). Data were analyzed with Kruskal Wallis and Dunn’s tests. Results. Statistically significant differences were found between different methods and control group for all tested bacteria. There were statistically significant differences between all test groups for all microorganisms. MW was the most effective for L. rhamnosus and 100% white vinegar was the most effective method for S. mutans and S. aureus. NaOCl was the most effective for E. coli. Conclusion. This study showed that 100% white vinegar was considered to be effective for tested microorganisms. Similarly, 1% NaOCl is cost-effective, easily accessible, and comparatively effective for toothbrush disinfection. Because these agents are nontoxic, cost-effective and easily accessible, they may be appropriate for household use.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/726190
spellingShingle Ilkay Peker
Gulcin Akca
Cigdem Sarikir
Meryem Toraman Alkurt
Irem Celik
Effectiveness of Alternative Methods for Toothbrush Disinfection: An In Vitro Study
The Scientific World Journal
title Effectiveness of Alternative Methods for Toothbrush Disinfection: An In Vitro Study
title_full Effectiveness of Alternative Methods for Toothbrush Disinfection: An In Vitro Study
title_fullStr Effectiveness of Alternative Methods for Toothbrush Disinfection: An In Vitro Study
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of Alternative Methods for Toothbrush Disinfection: An In Vitro Study
title_short Effectiveness of Alternative Methods for Toothbrush Disinfection: An In Vitro Study
title_sort effectiveness of alternative methods for toothbrush disinfection an in vitro study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/726190
work_keys_str_mv AT ilkaypeker effectivenessofalternativemethodsfortoothbrushdisinfectionaninvitrostudy
AT gulcinakca effectivenessofalternativemethodsfortoothbrushdisinfectionaninvitrostudy
AT cigdemsarikir effectivenessofalternativemethodsfortoothbrushdisinfectionaninvitrostudy
AT meryemtoramanalkurt effectivenessofalternativemethodsfortoothbrushdisinfectionaninvitrostudy
AT iremcelik effectivenessofalternativemethodsfortoothbrushdisinfectionaninvitrostudy