As far as hygiene was concerned, the researchers observed no differences between decontamination using cold versus hot water or rinsing with mouthwash.
In fact, the only two toothbrushes in the study that owners claimed they regularly rinsed with mouthwash showed telltale signs of fecal contamination.
"Using a toothbrush cover doesn't protect a toothbrush from bacterial growth, but actually creates an environment where bacteria are better suited to grow by keeping the bristles moist and not allowing the head of the toothbrush to dry out between uses," says Aber.
Communal or not, the bathroom is an environment that makes toothbrushes vulnerable to contamination with substances from the toilet, according to the study that was presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.
What's more, hollow-headed power toothbrushes could attract and transmit even more bacteria than solid ones, according to another recent study conducted at Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Dentistry.
"Toothbrushes can transmit microorganisms that cause disease and infections. A solid-head design allows for less growth of bacteria and bristles should be soft and made of nylon," says lead author Donna Warren Morris, R.D.H., M.Ed.
Finding a solid-head power toothbrush can be a daunting process because as Morris points out, the packaging does not normally indicate that aspect of the head design.
The study was published in the Journal of Dental Hygiene.
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