An in vitro comparison of antimicrobial toothbrushes.

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of toothbrushes that advertise self-disinfecting, antimicrobial properties due to the inclusion of silver nanoparticles or chlorhexidine in the bristles. Three different types of toothbrushes-silver nanoparticle, chlorhexidine-coated, and a control-were submerged in suspensions of Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans. At designated times postinoculation, organisms were removed from the toothbrush heads, then serially diluted, plated, and incubated.