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A household microwave can be used to disinfect toothbrushes contaminated by microorganisms, find two studies.
That conclusion was reached separately by a pair of Brazilian researchers that used bacteria-, virus- and yeast-infected brush heads to compare the microwave’s efficacy against widely used chemical solutions.
As a low-cost and practical means of manual toothbrush sanitization, the microwave could be an important preventative tool against tooth decay and the more than 100 diseases it has been linked to via inflammation. These include cardiovascular disease, stroke, respiratory infections, pancreatic cancer, diabetes, and nutritional problems.
Turns out, toothbrushes play a critical role in the link between your oral and systemic health.
Microorganisms from the mouth can transfer to the brush’s head and handle within hours of use. Colonization and diversification of these opportunistic microbes is accelerated by the toothbrush’s environment, including proximity to a toilet and the presence of moisture. Prolonged periods of usage can result in the formation and eventual transfer of biofilm (plaque) back into the mouth.
#gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; }
How the microwave kills microorganisms was not investigated in the studies and has not yet been established definitively. Previous research theorizes it may be the result of intense heat. Other studies suggest the microwave’s radiowave frequencies penetrate the cell membrane, resulting in death.
Though both studies produced similar findings, different methods complicates general application. These differences include microwave settings, chemical agent used for comparison, and total variety of microbes tested against.
The authors of the study published first in the January/February issue of Pediatric Dentistry heated their toothbrush specimens for 7 minutes in a 1100-watt microwave at 70% power. The results were compared to those from an application of 0.12% chlorhexidine (the active ingredient in some mouthwashes) and another set treated with sterilized tap water.
The second study found success compared to a 3.78% sodium perborate solution (similar to Borax) using a 650-watt microwave for 60 seconds to treat brush heads submerged in 6.5 ounces of sterilized water. The results will be printed in a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Dental Hygiene.
Both studies tested against Streptococcus mutans, an acid-producing bacteria commonly associated with tooth decay and cavities.
But the authors using the 650-watt microwave also investigated its effeciency against Candida albicans (a yeast that causes oral infection) and Staphlyococcus aureus (commonly known as MRSA).
The official position of the American Dental Association maintains that, “There is insufficient clinical evidence to support that bacterial growth on toothbrushes will lead to specific adverse oral or systemic health effects.”
Subsequently, the organization also cautions that microwaving a toothbrush may damage the brush or reduce its effectiveness.
That conclusion was reached separately by a pair of Brazilian researchers that used bacteria-, virus- and yeast-infected brush heads to compare the microwave’s efficacy against widely used chemical solutions.
As a low-cost and practical means of manual toothbrush sanitization, the microwave could be an important preventative tool against tooth decay and the more than 100 diseases it has been linked to via inflammation. These include cardiovascular disease, stroke, respiratory infections, pancreatic cancer, diabetes, and nutritional problems.
Turns out, toothbrushes play a critical role in the link between your oral and systemic health.
Microorganisms from the mouth can transfer to the brush’s head and handle within hours of use. Colonization and diversification of these opportunistic microbes is accelerated by the toothbrush’s environment, including proximity to a toilet and the presence of moisture. Prolonged periods of usage can result in the formation and eventual transfer of biofilm (plaque) back into the mouth.
#gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; }
How the microwave kills microorganisms was not investigated in the studies and has not yet been established definitively. Previous research theorizes it may be the result of intense heat. Other studies suggest the microwave’s radiowave frequencies penetrate the cell membrane, resulting in death.
Though both studies produced similar findings, different methods complicates general application. These differences include microwave settings, chemical agent used for comparison, and total variety of microbes tested against.
The authors of the study published first in the January/February issue of Pediatric Dentistry heated their toothbrush specimens for 7 minutes in a 1100-watt microwave at 70% power. The results were compared to those from an application of 0.12% chlorhexidine (the active ingredient in some mouthwashes) and another set treated with sterilized tap water.
The second study found success compared to a 3.78% sodium perborate solution (similar to Borax) using a 650-watt microwave for 60 seconds to treat brush heads submerged in 6.5 ounces of sterilized water. The results will be printed in a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Dental Hygiene.
Both studies tested against Streptococcus mutans, an acid-producing bacteria commonly associated with tooth decay and cavities.
But the authors using the 650-watt microwave also investigated its effeciency against Candida albicans (a yeast that causes oral infection) and Staphlyococcus aureus (commonly known as MRSA).
The official position of the American Dental Association maintains that, “There is insufficient clinical evidence to support that bacterial growth on toothbrushes will lead to specific adverse oral or systemic health effects.”
Subsequently, the organization also cautions that microwaving a toothbrush may damage the brush or reduce its effectiveness.
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