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VOLUME 9 , ISSUE 1 ( January-February, 2018 ) > List of Articles

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Evaluation of Effectiveness of Home Remedies for Toothbrush Decontamination using Vinegar and Vinegar with Common Salt

Arathi Rao, Vinay Mavani, Karuna Y Mahabala, Ethel Suman, P Anupama Nayak

Citation Information : Rao A, Mavani V, Y Mahabala K, Suman E, Anupama Nayak P. Evaluation of Effectiveness of Home Remedies for Toothbrush Decontamination using Vinegar and Vinegar with Common Salt. World J Dent 2018; 9 (1):19-23.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10015-1500

License: CC BY 3.0

Published Online: 01-09-2017

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2018; The Author(s).


Abstract

Aim

The aim of the study was to evaluate if vinegar and vinegar with 3.5% sodium chloride could be used as an alternative to chlorhexidine gluconate for disinfection of toothbrushes.

Materials and methods

The study consisted of three groups: group I: 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate, group II: 38% white vinegar, and group III: 38% white vinegar with 3.5% sodium chloride. Two new toothbrushes were cultured to check their sterility before use. Eight children in the age group of 6 to 12 years were given oral hygiene instructions and four sets of oral hygiene kits. At the end of the 1st week, one set of used toothbrushes was cultured to check for total viable count. Again at the end of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th weeks, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th sets of brushes were collected, subjected to respective decontamination treatment for 12 hours, and then cultured for microbial analyses. The obtained data were analyzed using Fisher's exact test.

Results

In group I, three out of eight brushes showed 1 to 10,000 colonies, in group II, one out of eight cases showed >10,000 colonies and two out of eight showed 1 to 10,000 colonies, and in group III, all the eight cases showed no colonies upon culturing.

Conclusion

Out of all the tested decontaminating agents, combination of 38% white vinegar and 3.5% sodium chloride was found to be the most efficient.

Clinical significance

Toothbrushes become contaminated upon use and act as a reservoir for microorganisms. Thus, toothbrush decontamination should become a routine practice. Testing the disinfecting efficacy of vinegar and common salt is, thus, beneficial as they are available in every kitchen.

How to cite this article

Mavani V, Mahabala KY, Suman E, Natarajan S, Nayak PA, Srikrishna SB, Rao A. Evaluation of Effectiveness of Home Remedies for Toothbrush Decontamination using Vinegar and Vinegar with Common Salt. World J Dent 2018;9(1):19-23.


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