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A review of research literature led to the realisation that conventional
toothbrushes serve as a haven where pathogenic microorganisms (disease-causing
bacteria) of human and environmental origin can accumulate, and the
humid environment of the bathroom is ideally suited to their culture.
This has long been recognised as a source of infection by eminent
researchers such as Dr. Glass, Professor of Oral Pathology University
of Oklahoma, et al, who have established that, not only are they responsible
for oral disease, but are also associated with respiratory, gastrointestinal,
cardiovascular and kidney disease. In spite of the foregoing, no toothbrush had hitherto been developed that was both biologically sound and commercially viable. Noel Hensey opted to address this problem and has developed the Bac-free brush, which not only provides a practical and powerful solution to the serious problem of contamination, but also affords the facility to brush the teeth, anywhere and at anytime, tooth paste not essential. Arising out of a quest for a suitable sanitising system, the following study was commissioned:- EFFICACY OF ANTIBACTERIAL MOUTHWASH FOR SANITISATION OF TOOTHBRUSHES. a study by The INDEPENDENT PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH UNIT (TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN). INTRODUCTION A device has been invented by Mr. Noel Hensey which will contain antibacterial mouthwash and will be used to store toothbrushes between washing. IPRU was requested to measure total viable bacterial counts (TVC) in colony forming units (CFU) at two temperatures on toothbrushes stored in air between brushing and to compare the results with those obtained from toothbrushes stored in antibacterial mouthwash between brushing. The TVC at 22°C give counts of environmental bacteria, whereas the TVC at 37°C give those of environmental origin which grow at 37°C together with coliforms of animal/human origin. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Six volunteers were recruited for this study. They were all healthy males between 22 and 48 years. None suffered from current oral disease. They were requested to rinse their toothbrush, which had been stored in air for at least 12 hours in 25ml distilled water in a sterile container (Pre-treatment). They were then instructed to wash their teeth and store their toothbrush in 25ml "Actibrush" (Colgate Palmolive Ltd. U.K.) antibacterial mouthwash overnight. The toothbrushes were rinsed in cold tap water to remove any residual mouthwash in the morning. They were then rinsed in 25ml distilled water in a sterile container (Post-treatment). The water samples were tested for TVC at 22°C and 37°C according to the method No.: 9215C (Spread Plate Method for Heterotrophic Plate Count) in Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste Water, 1989 17th Ed. APHS-AWWA-WPCF. The Table below summarises the statistical analysis employed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test and it can be seen that the total viable bacterial count at both 22°C and 37°C are significantly reduced following storage of the toothbrush in antibacterial mouthwash (p<0.05).
* p < 0.05 (Pre- versus Post-treatment).
CONCLUSION The results suggest that storing toothbrushes in antibacterial agents significantly reduce bacterial contamination compared to storing them in air. The evidence provided by Trinity College led the inventor to adopt mouthwash as an integral element of the Bac-free brush. |
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Noel Hensey & Associates
