Toothbrush contamination was the subject of study at Quinnipiac University in Hamden (USA) which was presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. The study found that more than 60% of shared bathroom toothbrushes contain fecal matter.
“The main concern is not the presence of the fecal matter itself on the toothbrush, but rather that when a toothbrush is contaminated with fecal matter from another person, it contains bacteria, viruses or parasites that are not part of the normal flora of the individual, ”explains Lauren Aber, leader of the study published in the journal of the American Dental Association .
To reach this conclusion, the scientists collected and analyzed toothbrushes from common bathrooms from Quinnipiac University students with an average of about 10 people per bathroom. The analysis revealed a high percentage of fecal matter contamination on users’ brushes, whether or not they were covered. In fact , covered toothbrushes were more likely to contain bacteria , as the coating encourages bacteria to spread more easily.
“Using a toothbrush coating not only doesn’t protect it from bacterial growth, it creates an environment where bacteria better adapt by keeping the bristles moist, ” says Aber.
Researchers point to Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonadaceae as some of the species of bacteria that can potentially contaminate toothbrushes.
The American Dental Association recommends not sharing toothbrushes, covering them or storing them in closed containers, and replacing them every three to four months .
