Determinants of Microbial Load in Used Toothbrush Bristles: A Comparative Study of Household Storage Practices

Abstract

Background: Important for dental care, toothbrushes can be reservoirs for germs, potentially affecting health. Aiming to find relationships between environmental factors, socio-demographic characteristics, and microbial load, this study investigates the factors of microbial load on toothbrushes based on household storage practices in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. The possible health hazards connected to bacterial contamination highlight the need of this kind of research. Methods: From 2019 to 2022, the Dental Unit, Rajshahi Medical College, conducted a cross-sectional comparative study including 120 participants drawn by purposive sampling. Data collecting comprised microbiological sample of used toothbrushes and a behavioural survey on toothbrush use and storage. Microbial material was grown on selective agar media to find pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, lactobacilli, E. coli, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas. Chi-square tests in statistical analysis helped to evaluate the importance of noted variations. Results: The results revealed a significant finding: bacterial contamination is common in many storage conditions. The most often occurring pollutants were Streptococcus mutans (85.5%), Escherichia coli (66.6%), and Pseudomonas (66.6%). Escherichia coli (86.6%) and Pseudomonas (80.0%) contaminating toothbrushes kept in washrooms (WR) revealed noticeably greater levels than in non-washroom (NWR) settings. Between WR and NWR environments, statistical analysis exposed notable variations in Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas contamination(p<0.05). Conclusion: The study emphasizes the need of good hygienic toothbrush storage methods to reduce any oral and systemic danger. Because of their high humidity and possible faecal contamination, it emphasizes bathrooms as sources of microbial development.