THE DAILY TOOTHBRUSH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20282, 15 December 1927, Page 15

THE DAILY TOOTHBRUSH.

why, an antiseptic is neceb. SARY. There is only one constant feature *n all cases of chronic gum irritation. It is an article which is used by practically everybody in this country, and "radically everybody amongst so-called western civilisation—l refer to the toothbrush (says F. D. Donovan in the Lancet). “1 am quite prepared to affirm that, there is no toothbrush, or there are very few toothbrushes in the world to-day, that are not septic. I have examined very many, my own included. In 'mint ol tact, I started with my own, taking a lew bristles out and examining them bactonologicailv myself. I was surprised to find my own toothbrushes septic. Believing that the easiest person to carry out experiments on is .oneself, 1 threw them away and bought some more. “ These were sterilised and examined, and found to be clean. They were then used in the ordinary way, with ordinary toothpaste. They were washed, dipped in a mild mouthwash, and put in the rack. Before the next tooth-brushing, some 12 hours later, they were examined a uain—still septic. This was repeated, usinn 1 different pastes and mouth-washes, etc. ° The brushes were also hung in the sun outside the window before being put in the so-called antiseptic cases supplied by the manufacturers. The result was invariably the same. I extended these examinations on many men living in the same club as myself. The net result was again the same. ‘‘ My method of examination was to take, in the first place, a few bristles. they were found to be septic that was quite enough. If they were clean, more were taken. 1 found them when examining the toothbrush after 12 hours' rest—that is, before the Second using—every bristle was septic. But when the toothbrush was examined immediately after using, great bunches of bristles were found to bo clean; sotfhat I might safely say that immediately after use the toothbrush was slightly septic, but after 12 hours m the rack or case it was strongly septic, in reality, the infection was being incubated in the cas e for 12 hours. Mr Donovan then gives a summary of bacteriological examination of hundreds of brushes which bears out all his contentions, and concludes his' Lancet article by writing: ‘'“l have come to the conclusion that there is nothing for it but to leave the brush immersed in a fairly strong antiseptic the whole of the time it is not n use. “I have put a sterile orush after use in 1-20 carbolic, and have continued o use it without becoming infected. This is very hard on the brush, but a very good thing for the toothbrush manufacturers. The only toothbrush that will not become slimy with constant immersion in fluid must bo made of a much stiller and thicker material than those that are generally used to-day. “ The prevention of much gum trouble lies in the non-use of septic toothbrushes. As toothbrushes have become a necessity in modern life, great care must bo taken to see that they are kept clean in the manner seated. Ido not suggest that septic toothbrushes are the activating cause of pyorrhoea alveolaris, but I do suggest most strongly that once the mblic realises this danger and deals with it, Liu number of cases of pyorrhoea will diminish to the small prccentage that existed before the use of toothbrushes became so prevalent. •“ I do not say that no cases of pyorrhoea alveolaris’ will exist. Pyorrhoea alveolaris existed before toothbrushes were thought of. The modern prevalence ol the disease is due to the way in which thc mucous membranes of the mouth are irn tated end their resistance lowered by these septic brushes. - In conclusion, I emphasise that pyorrhoea alveolaris is in no way active!;, caused by the dirty brush ; but that the fround is so prepared by this constant irritation that the membranes fall an easy prey to the disease, should other Predisposing conditions arise. Whatever may be the activating cause, these filthy brushes arc at the root of 90 per cent, of the oases, and the prevention is in 'h > patients’ own hands. The few cases which occur independently of brush irn-t-itinn rmdd all th e more certainly he dealt with.