Picking the Right Head for Your Power Toothbrush
A new study published in the Journal of Dental Hygiene suggests that the kind of head you put on your power toothbrush may influence the amount of bacteria on the brush. The results indicated that the hollow head attachment retains up to 3,000 times more bacteria on it than the solid head attachment.
Most toothbrushes retain some amount of bacteria, which is normal and has not been associated with the transmission of any systemic issues but the hollow head design for the power toothbrush is retaining significantly more bacteria. A power toothbrush can be better than a manual toothbrush but picking the right head is essential. Hollow head versus solid head is not normally labeled on the packaging but you should look for a design where the head attachment (the part that goes into the base) that is mostly solid from where it attaches to where the bristles are located.
To further reduce the amount of bacteria on your toothbrush, it is generally recommended to allow your toothbrush to dry in between uses. The common practice of putting a cap on your toothbrush does not allow for the toothbrush to dry and actually creates a good environment for bacterial growth. You can also try soaking the toothbrush in mouthwash for 20 minutes after use to help disinfect it.
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140828115226.htm
R. Eric Emery, DDS
Morgan A. Emery, DDS
Smile Station Dental
2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd, Suite 400
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)821-7100
smilestationdental.com
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