Purpose: The aim of this clinical investigation was to identify and quantify the microbial species adhering to toothbrush bristles after controlled brushing and storage in different antimicrobial agents.
Methods: Sixteen healthy participants were enrolled in this study and randomly submitted to 4 interventions in a cross-over design: brushing and toothbrush storage in (I) Periogard/(II) Periobio (Chlorhexidine gluconate 0.12%), (III) Cepacol (cetylpyridinium chloride 0.05%) and (IV) distilled water (positive control). Thirty-eight bacterial species including putative pathogens and 5 Candida spp. were assessed by Checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization.
Results: The results of the study have shown a striking reduction of the total microbial counts, including bacteria and Candida spp., on the toothbrush bristles after storage in cetylpyridinium chloride 0.05% (p < 0.0001). Chlorhexidine gluconate 0.12% showed no differences on the total bacterial count when compared to distilled water (p > 0.05). Cetylpyridinium chloride solution also presented the lowest genome counts and frequency of detection for individual target species; distilled water showed the highest individual genome counts (p < 0.05). Potential pathogenic species were recorded in moderate to high levels for chlorhexidine gluconate and distilled water.
Conclusion: Cetylpyridinium chloride 0.05% was the most effective storage solution in the reduction of total and individual microbial counts, including pathogenic species.
Keywords: Cross-over study; Genomic DNA; Microorganisms; Toothbrush.
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