Hollow-head toothbrushes hold 3,000 times more germs than solid-head ones

A new research has revealed that bacterial growth on hollow-head toothbrushes is 3,000 times more than solid-head power toothbrushes.

According to researchers at the University of Texas, microbial counts were lower in the solid-head toothbrush group than in the two hollow-head toothbrush groups in 9 out of 10 comparisons.

Lead author Donna Warren Morris said that toothbrushes could transmit microorganisms that caused disease and infections and that, a solid-head design allowed less growth of bacteria and bristles should be soft and made of nylon.

Morris added that it was also important to disinfect and to let the toothbrush dry between uses and some power toothbrushes now included an ultraviolet system or one could soak the head in mouthwash for 20 minutes.

Morris continued that the best way to identify a solid-head design was through the connection to the body of the power toothbrush; naturally, there would be some space to connect the two parts but a significant portion would be solid, up to the bristles or brush head.

During the study the brush heads were exposed to five categories of oral microorganisms, anaerobes and facultative microorganisms, yeast and mold, oral streptococci and oral enterococci anaerobes, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium species.

The study is published in the Journal of Dental Hygiene.