title: Reduction in bacterial contamination of toothbrushes using the Violight ultraviolet light activated toothbrush sanitizer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This two armed, self-controlled, investigator blinded, clinical study tested the efficacy of an ultraviolet (UV) light toothbrush holder (Violight) to decrease toothbrush bacterial contamination.
  
  
  METHODS
  25 subjects were randomly assigned to control or experimental groups and received two toothbrushes for home use on either even or odd days. The control group rinsed both toothbrushes after use in cold tap water with no mechanical manipulation. The experimental group rinsed one toothbrush in cold running water while storing the other toothbrush in the Violight toothbrush holder after use. The toothbrushes were returned after 2 weeks use in sealed plastic bags and were analyzed for the number of colony forming units (CFU) of S. mutans, S. salivarius, lactobacilli, E. coli, and other coliforms, and total bacterial counts by culture. An additional analysis of the total bacterial profile was performed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Violight toothbrush holder reduced total CFU by an average of 86% (ANCOVA, P = 0.037). In addition, a tendency was noted for a reduction in total bacterial population as detected by DGGE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences and Craniofacial Biology, New York University College of Dentistry, 345 East 24th Street, New York, New York 10010-4086, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boylan
authors.forename: Yihong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Simeonova
authors.forename: Gene
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sherwin
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kreismann
authors.forename: Ronald G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Jonathan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ship
authors.forename: Jane A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McCutcheon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001419:Bacteria / Q000528:radiation effects*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003666:Decontamination / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000528:radiation effects; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial