title: Microbial contamination of toothbrushes during treatment with multibracket appliances.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It was aimed to assess the retention of caries-associated microorganisms on two different manual toothbrushes (conventional and tapered) and to evaluate the influence of multibracket appliances (MB) on the microbial contamination of the brush head.
  
  
  METHODS
  50 MB-patients and 50 subjects without MB received a toothbrush (elmex® interX medium short head or meridol®) plus toothpaste (elmex®) for exclusive use and an information sheet with standardised brushing instructions. After 14 days of regular tooth brushing, the brushes were collected and sluiced in Sputasol solution. The suspension was incubated on selective agar plates and the amount of Streptococcus mutans, lactobacilli and Candida albicans for each brush head was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regarding the retention of microorganisms, no differences could be detected between the two bristle designs. However, the amount of S. mutans was significantly higher on brushes used by MB-patients (p < 0.005) than on the brushes of subjects without MB. The number of Lactobacilli and C. albicans was minimal in all cases and below statistical evaluation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During treatment with MB appliances, toothbrushes were contaminated more intensely with S. mutans independent of bristle design. A more frequent replacement of toothbrushes may thus be recommended for patients undergoing MB-treatment.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eichenauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Justus-Liebig-University, Schlangenzahl 14, 35392 Giessen, Germany. Julia.v.Bremen@dentist.med.uni-giessen.de.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: von Bremen
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruf
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016910:Orthodontic Brackets / Q000382:microbiology*; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055815:Young Adult