Comparison of the Antimicrobial Effect of Hydrogen Water and Chlorhexidine Mouth rinse in Toothbrush Disinfection Among Dental Students.

BACKGROUND

Toothbrushes are essential for eliminating dental biofilm and preventing caries and periodontal disease. Regular disinfecting is necessary to maintain a clean toothbrush. Chlorhexidine is the gold standard, but it may be resistant to periodontal pathogens. Hydrogen-rich water, due to its antioxidant properties, may be beneficial against periodontal infections.

METHOD: A study comparing hydrogen water and chlorhexidine as toothbrush disinfectants was conducted. Thirty dental students were divided into two groups: A and B. Group A students used hydrogen water and Group B used chlorhexidine mouth rinse as a disinfecting solution. They were instructed to brush twice a day for seven days and disinfect their toothbrushes with the disinfection solution for 10 minutes. Bristles from the collected toothbrush were sectioned and incubated for 24 hrs and colony-forming units (CFU) were counted.

RESULT: The results showed that hydrogen water had significantly less colony-forming units in brushes disinfected with hydrogen water compared to chlorhexidine.

CONCLUSION

Hydrogen water has better antimicrobial properties than chlorhexidine mouthwash. Therefore, hydrogen water is recommended as a regular disinfectant for toothbrushes.