Inhibition of biofilms associated with dentures and toothbrushes by tetrasodium EDTA.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the efficacy of tetrasodium EDTA in eradicating biofilms derived from salivary inocula or pure cultures of Candida albicans on discs of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) denture base or on toothbrushes that had been used normally for 4-8 weeks. Its efficiency in virus neutralization was also determined.


RESULTS
Overnight (16 h) treatment with 4% (w/v) tetrasodium EDTA solution reduced salivary and C. albicans biofilm viable counts by > or =99%. Biofilm removal was confirmed using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Presence/absence of sucrose during biofilm formation had no effect on killing efficacy. Prolonged treatment of PMMA with tetrasodium EDTA did not influence subsequent formation of C. albicans biofilms or affect surface roughness of the PMMA, but it reduced subsequent biofilm formation from a salivary inoculum. Infectivities of herpes simplex virus and polio virus suspensions were reduced by >99.99% by treatment for 1 and 2 h, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Tetrasodium EDTA solution efficiently disinfected toothbrushes and PMMA discs, with the detachment of biofilms, and rapidly neutralized both nonenveloped and enveloped viruses.


CONCLUSIONS
Dentures and toothbrushes become contaminated by bacterial biofilms and by viruses. There is a need for disinfection methods that are rapidly effective, cost-effective, nontoxic and easily implemented. These studies indicate that tetrasodium EDTA solution has disinfection applications in the oral care field.
Devine
D A
DA
Department of Oral Biology, Leeds Dental Institute, University of Leeds, UK. d.a.devine@leeds.ac.uk
Percival
R S
RS
Wood
D J
DJ
Tuthill
T J
TJ
Kite
P
P
Killington
R A
RA
Marsh
P D
PD
D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care / Q000382:microbiology*; D003778:Dentures; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D017955:Poliovirus / Q000187:drug effects; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000187:drug effects
D004202:Disinfectants; D004492:Edetic Acid