Comparing Antibacterial Efficacy of 70% Isopropyl Alcohol and 0.2% Chlorhexidine on Toothbrushes: A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial

microwave treatment, dishwasher cleaning, antibacterial sprays, ultraviolet (UV) sterilizers, and more.Ideally, toothbrush disinfection should be easy, fast, affordable, safe, and efficient.Chemical solutions remain a practical and effective choice for disinfecting toothbrushes. 6 Existing literature found that toothbrushes did not contain any bacteria when used to brush teeth after using an antimicrobial mouthwash.After soaking a toothbrush in Listerine mouthwash for 20 minutes, the number of bacteria in the mouth greatly IntroductIonRegular toothbrushing is vital for oral health.By emphasizing preventive care, dental professionals help the public understand the importance of maintaining good oral health.Improper storage or hand hygiene can expose toothbrushes to airborne bacteria, especially in bathroom environments, where they can pick up intestinal bacteria.Therefore, prolonged use of toothbrushes can lead to contamination by various harmful microorganisms such as Candida, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas, Lactobacilli, and Staphylococcus. 1 Karibasappa et al. found that toothbrush head between the bristle tufts not only harbors microorganisms but also provides a favorable situation for their growth. 2,3Toothbrushes, used for as little as 30 seconds or up to 4 minutes, can become contaminated with oral cavity microbes such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi.The oral cavity harbors the highest number of germs in the body.Toothbrushes hold approximately 4 10 8 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL of bacteria, with prevalent species such as Staphylococci (64%), Escherichia (57%), and Pseudomonas (28%). 4,5 Therefore, it is crucial to establish standardized protocols to prevent such contamination and minimize the risk of contracting illnesses from these microbes.Researchers are exploring various methods for disinfecting toothbrushes, such as immersion disinfection,