THE DAILY TOOTHBBUSH.

Western Star, 23 December 1927, Page 4

THE DAILY TOOTHBBUSH.

WHY AN ANTISEPTIC IS NECESSARY, There is only one constant feature in all cases of chronic gum irritation. It is an article which, is used by practically everybody in this country, and practically everybody! amongst so-called western civilisation—<l refer to the toothbrush (says F D Donovan in the Lancet). ‘I 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 point of fact, I started with my own, taking & few bristles out and examining them baoteriologically myself. I was surprised to find my own. toothbrushes septic. Believing that the easiest persons to carry out experiments on is oneself, I 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 w)er e washed, dipped in a mild mouthwash, and put in the rack. Before the next toothbrushing sonde 12 hours later, they were examined again—still septic. This was repeated, using different pastes and mouth washes,. etc. The brushes were also hurfg in the sun outsidte 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 is 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. As they were found to b*e septic that was quite enough. If they were clean more were taken. I found them when examining the toothbrush- after 1J hours’ rest —that is before the sec £ n< " using—every bristle was septic. But when the toothbrush was examined, immediately after using, great bunches of bristles were found to be clean; so that I might safely say that immediately' after us© 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 case for 12 hours. Mr Donovan then gives a summary of bacteriological examination of hundreds 6f brushes which bears out all his contentions, and' concludes, bis Lancet article by writing.— ; _ , ‘I 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-in use. f , ‘I have put a sterile brush after use in 1-20 carbolic, and have continued to use it without becoming infected. This is very hard on the brush, but a very good thing for the toothbrush that will not become slimy with constant immersion in fluid must be made of a much stiffer 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 be taken'to see that they are kept dean in the manner stated; I do hot suggest that septic toothbrushes are the activating cause of pyorrhoea alveolaris, but I do suggest most strongly that once the public realises this danger and deals with it, the number of cases of ' pyorrhoea will diminish to the small percentage 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 of the disease is due to the way? in tfhich the mucous membranes of the mouth are irritated and their resistance lowered by these septic brushes. . v . Tn conclusion, ■ I emphasise that pyorrhoea 1 alveolaris is in no way actively caused by ‘ the dirty brush; hut that the ground! is so prepared by this constant irritation that the f membranes fall an easy prey to the disease, should other predisposing conditions . ! arise‘ Whatever may 1 be the activating cause, these filthy brushes are at the root of 60 per cent, of the cases, afid the prevention is in the patients’ own hands., The few- cases which occur independently of brush irritation could all the more certainly be dealt witK.