Oral hygiene habits and storage method impact on toothbrush contamination among patients in Kuwait
A.M. AlAli, N. M. AlMaraghi, Q.Y. Electricwala, A. A. Dashti
Abstract:
Objective(s): To investigate oral hygiene habits and the impact of different storage methods on toothbrushes bacterial growth among participants in Kuwait
Design: Prospective controlled study
Setting: Health Science Centre, Kuwait University, and Asnan Tower (private dental clinic) between December 2013 and January 2014.
Subjects: The study was conducted among 240 participants (students, staff, and patients) that were selected by convenience sampling and allocated randomly into five groups according to storage method.
Intervention(s): Each participant provided with a new toothbrush to use for 5 continuous days. A questionnaire regarding the oral hygiene habits was also given.
Main Outcome Measure(s): Oral hygiene habits and bacterial growth on toothbrushes were identified.
Result(s): Of the participants, 38%, 27%, and 25% brush their teeth twice a day, after meals, and once a day (morning) respectively. Most participants store their toothbrushes in the bathroom after use but only 5% store them outside the bathroom. Ten different bacterial strains were isolated from 182 toothbrushes and one type of yeasts, Candida Spp. was identified. Neisseria spp. and Staphylococcus epidermidis were shown to be present in all groups regardless the toothbrushes storage method. Whereas Streptococcus viridans, Bacillus spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter agglomerans have been identified solely in specific groups only.
Conclusion(s): The participants showed satisfactory standards of oral hygiene habits and definitely in need of raising the awareness of implementing better oral health. Soaking the toothbrush in chlorhexidine shown to be the best storage method in terms of the presence of bacterial strains.
