Prevalence, intensity and nature of bacteraemia after toothbrushing.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence, intensity and microbial identity of bacteraemia associated with toothbrushing.


METHODS
A total of 141 children and adolescents, aged between 3 and 17 years, having dental treatment under general anaesthesia at the Eastman Dental Hospital were recruited. Six millilitre of blood was taken before toothbrushing (baseline) with (1) Oral B 30 toothbrush or (2) Braun or (3) Sonicare electric toothbrush or (4) dental handpiece and rubber cup. A second 6-ml sample was taken 30s after toothbrushing. All blood samples were processed using lysis filtration and bacteria were identified to species level.


RESULTS
There was a significantly greater prevalence of bacteraemia following the dental handpiece only (p=0.02). There was a significantly greater aerobic and anaerobic intensity of bacteraemia following brushing with both the Sonicare (p=0.03 and p=0.05) and the dental handpiece (p=0.001 and p=0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Toothbrushing causes a bacteraemia that is often statistically significantly greater than baseline. Toothbrushing is an important contributory factor in cumulative dental bacteraemia.
Lucas
Victoria S
VS
Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Kings College London, Dental Institute, Bessemer Road, London SE5 9RS, UK. victoria.s.lucas@kcl.ac.uk
Gafan
Gavin
G
Dewhurst
Sarah
S
Roberts
Graham J
GJ
D000190:Actinomyces / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000293:Adolescent; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000145:classification* / Q000382:microbiology; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000145:classification; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000145:classification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003729:Dental Care; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000145:classification; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis / Q000295:instrumentation; D004560:Electricity; D004867:Equipment Design; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013997:Time Factors; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation