title: Influence of time, toothpaste and saliva in the retention of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis on different toothbrushes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The intraoral transmission of cariogenic and periodontopathogenic species seems to be facilitated by contaminated toothbrushes and other oral hygiene devices. The aim of this investigation was to analyze the in vitro retention and survival rate of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguinis on different toothbrushes. The impacts of human saliva and antimicrobial toothpaste on these parameters were further evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Part I: Four toothbrushes (Colgate 360°, Curaprox CS5460 ultra soft, elmex InterX, Trisa Flexible Head3) were contaminated by S. mutans DSM 20523 or S. sanguinis DSM 20068 suspensions for three minutes. Bacteria were removed from the toothbrushes after either three minutes (T0) or 24 hours (T24) of dry storage and grown on Columbia blood agar plates for the quantification of colony-forming units (CFUs). Part II: The effects of saliva from a caries-active or a caries-inactive person and of toothpaste containing 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate were also tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Part I: After three minutes of dry storage, approximately one percent of the bacteria were still detectable on the toothbrushes. After 24 hours, S. sanguinis exhibited a more pronounced decrease in viable cell numbers compared with S. mutans but the differences were not significant (Kruskal-Wallis test, p>0.05). Part II: The addition of human saliva from a caries-active or caries-inactive person slightly increased the retention of both streptococcal species at T0. The use of toothpaste had no influence on the amount of viable streptococci at T0, but it reduced the microbial load after 24 hours of storage. There were only slight nonsignificant differences (p>0.05) between the four toothbrushes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In vitro bacterial retention and survival of S. sanguinis and S. mutans on different toothbrushes occurred. Within the limitations of this study, the use of human saliva or an antimicrobial toothpaste did not lead to significant differences in the microbial load on toothbrushes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Endodontology and Cariology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Julia Caroline
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Preventive Dentistry and Oral Microbiology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bux
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Preventive Dentistry and Oral Microbiology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Filipuzzi-Jenny
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Preventive Dentistry and Oral Microbiology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Eva Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kulik
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Preventive Dentistry and Oral Microbiology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Tuomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Waltimo
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Endodontology and Cariology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weiger
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Endodontology and Cariology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Clemens
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Walter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D058491:Bacterial Load; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology; D003742:Dental Devices, Home Care / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D013298:Streptococcus sanguis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D014100:Toothpastes; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine