A quantitative approach to the effectiveness of ozone against microbiota organisms colonizing toothbrushes

Bezirtzoglou, Eugenia; Cretoiu, Silvia-Mariana; Moldoveanu, Mirela; Alexopoulos, Athanasios; Lazar, Veronica; Nakou, Mela

doi:10.1016/j.jdent.2008.04.007

« Previous Next »Journal of Dentistry
Volume 36, Issue 8 , Pages 600-605, August 2008

A quantitative approach to the effectiveness of ozone against microbiota organisms colonizing toothbrushes

Eugenia Bezirtzoglou
- Democritus University of Thrace, Faculty of Agricultural Development, Department of Food Science and Technology, Laboratory of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Hygiene, GR68200, Orestiada, Greece
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +30 2552041149.
Silvia-Mariana Cretoiu
- National Institute for Research and Development in Microbiology and Immunology “Cantacuzino” – Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, 050096, Bucharest, Romania
Mirela Moldoveanu
- Biology Institute of Romanian Academy, 060031, Bucharest, Romania
Athanasios Alexopoulos
- Democritus University of Thrace, Faculty of Agricultural Development, Department of Food Science and Technology, Laboratory of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Hygiene, GR68200, Orestiada, Greece
Veronica Lazar
- University of Bucharest, Faculty of Biology, 76201, Bucharest, Romania
Mela Nakou
- University of Athens, Dental School, Oral Microbiological Laboratory, Department of Periodontology, GR11527, Athens, Greece

Received 20 February 2008; received in revised form 14 April 2008; accepted 14 April 2008.

Abstract

Objectives

Toothbrushes are rapidly contaminated with different microorganisms, which colonize the oral cavity and interdental spaces. This can represent a possible cause of infection or reinfection. In this study, the ozone experimental effect upon toothbrushes microflora was estimated microbiologically before and after saturation with ozone gas.

Methods

Fifty used toothbrushes coming from children and adults were entered our study. Microorganisms were enumerated and identified. Bristles from each brush were soaked in ozone saturated PBS solution for 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30min and the total microbial population was reassessed.

Results

Counts of microorganisms isolated per brush varied between 10² and 10⁷ CFU. Candida albicans was present in used toothbrushes. No obligate anaerobes were isolated. Members of Streptococcaceae family were regularly found (65.2%) belonging to the following species: Streptococcus pyogenes, S. mutans, S. mitis, S. oralis, S. sobrinus, S. viridans, S. salivarius, S. sanguis, Aerococcus viridans. A. viridans and S. mutans were more frequently isolated on children toothbrushes while Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis were found on adults brushes. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp. and Enterococcus sp., were also recovered. We found that the ozone treatment decreased gradually the microbial load. However, a bacterial re-growth was effective following short ozonation period. Decontamination was complete after an extended exposure to ozone for 30min.

Conclusions

Ozone application was found to remove the toothbrushes bristles microbiota following conventional brushing. Maximum decontamination efficacy of ozone treatment was observed after 30min while exposure for short time periods seems to be inefficient which probably reflect the low dose of ozone used in this study.

Keywords: Oral hygiene, Toothbrush, Microbial contamination, Ozone, Disinfection, Microbiota