IngentaConnect Viability of Streptococcus Mutans Toothbrush Bristles

Authors: Saravia, Marta Estela¹; Nelson-Filho, Paulo²; da Silva, Raquel Assed Bezerra³; Faria, Gisele⁴; Rossi, Marcos Antonio⁵; Ito, Izabel Yoko⁶

Source: Journal of Dentistry for Children, Volume 75, Number 1, January-April 2008 , pp. 29-32(4)

Publisher: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

Abstract:

Purpose: Employing microbial culture, the purpose of this study was to assess in vitro the viability of Streptococcus mutans on toothbrush bristles relative to the drying time.

Methods: Forty-five toothbrushes were soaked in a suspension containing S mutans (ATCC 25175) in a 1,720.000 cfu/mL concentration (0.5 McFarland scale) for 4 minutes, rinsed in sterile tap water, and assigned to 9 groups. Group 1 toothbrushes were immediately incubated in CaSaB CaSaB (bacitracin sucrose broth—selective enrichment broth) culture medium for 4 days. Toothbrushes from groups 2 to 9 were kept at room temperature for 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 hours, respectively, and subsequently incubated in CaSaB culture medium.

Results: It was observed that micro-organisms were present on toothbrushes of groups 1 to 3, ranging from 50 to 100+ cfu. From the 12-hour drying period on, there was no growth of S mutans. Regarding the S mutans cfu, the results were expressed in scores and submitted to the Kruskal Wallis statistical test. It was observed that groups 1 to 3 were similar to each other (P>.05) and differed significantly (P<.001) from other groups, which, in turn, behaved similarly (P>0.05). From the 12-hour drying period on, there was a statistically significant decrease in the number of S mutans cfu (P<.01).

Conclusion: It may be concluded that Streptococcus mutans remained viable on the toothbrushes' bristles for up to 8 hours.

Keywords: TOOTHBRUSHES; STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS; VIABILITY

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: National University of Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina 2: Professor of pediatric dentistry, Department of Pediatric Clinics, Preventive and Social Dentistry, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil 3: Department of Pediatric Clinics, Preventive and Social Dentistry, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil 4: Department of Pathology, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil 5: Professor of pathology, Department of Pathology, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil 6: Professor of microbiology, Department of Clinical Analysis, Toxicology and Bromatology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil

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