Featured Articles for Purebrush, the World's Best Toothbrush Cleaner
USA Today Health News Reports
Your toothbrush may be a biohazard
April 27, 2000
By John Morgan
With medical adviser Stephen A. Shoop, M.D.
A Doctor In Your House.com
The most serious threat to your everyday health may
be hanging in plain sight in your bathroom.
It may come as a shock, but if you're like most people,
every time you put your trusty toothbrush in your
mouth, chances are you're giving a gang of nasty germs
a free ride straight into your system.
"Let me make it perfectly clear that in no way should
this be construed to mean you shouldn't brush your
teeth. You absolutely should," advises Dr. R. Tom
Glass, a leading research authority on toothbrush
hygiene and professor emeritus of oral pathology at
the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
"But if it's not cared for properly, your toothbrush
is a substantial health risk, with the razor blade
being a close second."
A substantial amount of research confirms that a variety
of bacteria and viral agents can survive for substantial
periods of time on your toothbrush. Among these microbes
are influenza viruses, herpes simplex I, streptococcus,
staphylococcus, candida, gingivalis and bacteroides
that causes gum disease.
"Your toothbrush is the perfect breeding ground for
these bugs," says Glass. "There's food and water,
and the brush itself provides the portal of entry
into your body." In effect, "Your toothbrush is an
enriched petri dish on a stick."
Toilet brush?
"To make matters worse, we keep our toothbrush in
the outhouse," reveals Glass. "The bathroom may be
inside now, but it is clearly the most unsanitary
room of the house. Every time you flush, you propel
the germs in your toilet into the air where they can
land on your nice, wet toothbrush."
And if you think hanging your toothbrush in the medicine
cabinet is a solution, think again. Germs like dark,
wet, warm environments even more than the open air.
Studies have demonstrated that toothbrushes become
infected sometime after one week of use, but before
one month. As a result of his research, Glass advises
that you replace your toothbrush with a new one every
two weeks.
This recommendation is at odds with the American Dental
Association's counsel that toothbrushes should be
changed "every 3-4 months or sooner if the bristles
become frayed." Most Americans don't even do that,
replacing their brushes on average only twice a year.
But Glass's research reveals that 66% of the initially
rounded bristles of your toothbrush become pointed,
"tiny little needles" in as little as two weeks of
use. The sharp tips can cause tiny lacerations in
the gums that allow infections to enter the body.
Electric-powered brushes with old bristles can make
matters even worse because they're harder on gums.
"It's almost impossible to determine how many people
are getting sick from their toothbrushes, but in my
practice I've found that just changing the toothbrush
alone can reduce the disease process in 25% of my
patients," says Glass. "I take all my patients suffering
from chronic infectious diseases off their electric
toothbrushes to prevent them from re-infecting themselves."
And because family members sometimes forget to change
heads on their power brushes, cross contamination
can occur, especially when someone in the household
is sick.
Even worse, whether ill or not, the family may not
be the only ones using your brush. According to Glass,
pets - particularly cats - as well as cockroaches
and even rats can be attracted to the food and water
trapped on the brush.
Existing scientific research clearly shows that infectious
agents like the influenza and herpes viruses can thrive
for significant periods on a toothbrush. In one study,
herpes had only decreased by 50% after one week of
being introduced to the brush.
But strangely, the ADA "does not think it necessary
for consumers to change their toothbrushes after recovering
from a cold or other infectious disease." According
to their official Web site, detergents in toothpaste
kill microorganisms that may linger on the bristles
between brushings.
But Glass's findings don't support that contention.
"No one has ever refuted any of my science, and I
stand by it," he counters. "I'd like to review their
research."
Put your money where your mouth is.
While changing your brush every two weeks may seem
like an unnecessary expense to some, Glass points
out that antibiotics to treat periodontal infections
cost easily as much or more. The cost of buying a
couple dozen new toothbrushes each year also pales
in comparison to the money you can spend treating
more serious illnesses such as heart disease, stroke,
diabetes, ulcers, and pneumonia - all of which have
significant correlations to gum disease.
And if you think you're safe just using a new toothbrush,
you may be dismayed to learn that in one study four
out of five brand new brushes straight out of the
package were already contaminated with staphylococcus
epidermidis.
So what can you do to minimize the health hazards
of a contaminated toothbrush?
Unfortunately, microorganisms are not effectively
killed by such techniques as soaking the brush in
antibacterial mouthwashes or cleaning the brush in
a dishwasher. And methods that do kill the requisite
number of microbes, such as boiling and microwaving,
generally render the brush unusable.
According Glass several studies have proven that,
"the most successful way to eliminate bacteria and
viruses from your brush is ultraviolet light." He
has tested two products featuring this technology:
the Pollenex Daily Dental Sanitizer and the Purebrush
Antibacterial Toothbrush Purifier.
While the Pollenex product was effective in killing
microorganisms, it is not currently available. That
leaves the Purebrush device, which costs $79.95 and
works with any toothbrush (manual, electric or sonic).
Studies show it effectively kills any germs left after
brushing and rinsing, and it protects the brush from
airborne or other opportunistic contaminations.
After extensive research on toothbrush hygiene, Glass
has signed on as medical advisor to Purebrush. He
stresses that he does not profit from sales. "With
UV sterilization you won't have to worry about contamination,
but you should still change your brushes every two
weeks to avoid creating portals of entry."
Toothbrush tips.
But not everyone can afford to purchase an ultraviolet
light system or even replace their high-tech toothbrush
every fortnight. So here are some general recommendations
to help avoid "brushborne" germs:
Don't keep your brushes in the bathroom. Store them
in the open air in the bedroom, the cleanest room
in the house.
Every family member should have a clearly identifiable,
color-coded brush to avoid cross contamination.
Transparent or translucent colored brushheads seem
to resist contamination better than opaque or solid
colored brushheads. The reason for this is unclear,
but it may be that natural UV rays travel more freely
through non-opaque substances.
Brushes with less dense configurations of bristles,
such as two- and three-row brushes, are generally
more germ resistant than those with four and five
rows.
When traveling, always use a new toothbrush, and replace
it after the trip. Studies show that the cheaper your
hotel room is, the greater the amount of germs in
the bathroom.
Brushes should be changed at the beginning of an illness
and after you feel completely better.
In general, it's better to buy a bunch of cheaper
brushes and change them more often than to spend so
much on a fancy brush that you feel you should keep
it around. "You should think of it like disposable
contact lenses," explains Glass. "Your toothbrush
isn't a lifelong friend."
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Customer Testimonials
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- "Purebrush provides the protection they need..."
- "Because people forget to change their toothbrushes as often as they should, Purebrush provides the protection they need."
-
- "Dr visits have decreased dramatically..."
- Purebrush is wonderful! I have two small children and our doctor visits have decreased dramatically since we purchased our Purebrush.
I really think your product is great and I believe that you are doing a great thing for people's health.
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USA Today Health News Reports Your toothbrush may be a biohazard
April 27, 2000By John Morgan
With medical adviser Stephen A. Shoop, M.D.
A Doctor In Your House.com
The most serious threat to your everyday health may
be hanging in plain sight in your bathroom.
It may come as a shock, but if you're like most people,
every time you put your trusty toothbrush in your
mouth, chances are you're giving a gang of nasty germs
a free ride straight into your system.
"Let me make it perfectly clear that in no way should
this be construed to mean you shouldn't brush your
teeth. You absolutely should," advises Dr. R. Tom
Glass, a leading research authority on toothbrush
hygiene and professor emeritus of oral pathology at
the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
"But if it's not cared for properly, your toothbrush
is a substantial health risk, with the razor blade
being a close second."
A substantial amount of research confirms that a variety
of bacteria and viral agents can survive for substantial
periods of time on your toothbrush. Among these microbes
are influenza viruses, herpes simplex I, streptococcus,
staphylococcus, candida, gingivalis and bacteroides
that causes gum disease.
"Your toothbrush is the perfect breeding ground for
these bugs," says Glass. "There's food and water,
and the brush itself provides the portal of entry
into your body." In effect, "Your toothbrush is an
enriched petri dish on a stick."
Toilet brush?
"To make matters worse, we keep our toothbrush in
the outhouse," reveals Glass. "The bathroom may be
inside now, but it is clearly the most unsanitary
room of the house. Every time you flush, you propel
the germs in your toilet into the air where they can
land on your nice, wet toothbrush."
And if you think hanging your toothbrush in the medicine
cabinet is a solution, think again. Germs like dark,
wet, warm environments even more than the open air.
Studies have demonstrated that toothbrushes become
infected sometime after one week of use, but before
one month. As a result of his research, Glass advises
that you replace your toothbrush with a new one every
two weeks.
This recommendation is at odds with the American Dental
Association's counsel that toothbrushes should be
changed "every 3-4 months or sooner if the bristles
become frayed." Most Americans don't even do that,
replacing their brushes on average only twice a year.
But Glass's research reveals that 66% of the initially
rounded bristles of your toothbrush become pointed,
"tiny little needles" in as little as two weeks of
use. The sharp tips can cause tiny lacerations in
the gums that allow infections to enter the body.
Electric-powered brushes with old bristles can make
matters even worse because they're harder on gums.
"It's almost impossible to determine how many people
are getting sick from their toothbrushes, but in my
practice I've found that just changing the toothbrush
alone can reduce the disease process in 25% of my
patients," says Glass. "I take all my patients suffering
from chronic infectious diseases off their electric
toothbrushes to prevent them from re-infecting themselves."
And because family members sometimes forget to change
heads on their power brushes, cross contamination
can occur, especially when someone in the household
is sick.
Even worse, whether ill or not, the family may not
be the only ones using your brush. According to Glass,
pets - particularly cats - as well as cockroaches
and even rats can be attracted to the food and water
trapped on the brush.
Existing scientific research clearly shows that infectious
agents like the influenza and herpes viruses can thrive
for significant periods on a toothbrush. In one study,
herpes had only decreased by 50% after one week of
being introduced to the brush.
But strangely, the ADA "does not think it necessary
for consumers to change their toothbrushes after recovering
from a cold or other infectious disease." According
to their official Web site, detergents in toothpaste
kill microorganisms that may linger on the bristles
between brushings.
But Glass's findings don't support that contention.
"No one has ever refuted any of my science, and I
stand by it," he counters. "I'd like to review their
research."
Put your money where your mouth is.
While changing your brush every two weeks may seem
like an unnecessary expense to some, Glass points
out that antibiotics to treat periodontal infections
cost easily as much or more. The cost of buying a
couple dozen new toothbrushes each year also pales
in comparison to the money you can spend treating
more serious illnesses such as heart disease, stroke,
diabetes, ulcers, and pneumonia - all of which have
significant correlations to gum disease.
And if you think you're safe just using a new toothbrush,
you may be dismayed to learn that in one study four
out of five brand new brushes straight out of the
package were already contaminated with staphylococcus
epidermidis.
So what can you do to minimize the health hazards
of a contaminated toothbrush?
Unfortunately, microorganisms are not effectively
killed by such techniques as soaking the brush in
antibacterial mouthwashes or cleaning the brush in
a dishwasher. And methods that do kill the requisite
number of microbes, such as boiling and microwaving,
generally render the brush unusable.
According Glass several studies have proven that,
"the most successful way to eliminate bacteria and
viruses from your brush is ultraviolet light." He
has tested two products featuring this technology:
the Pollenex Daily Dental Sanitizer and the Purebrush
Antibacterial Toothbrush Purifier.
While the Pollenex product was effective in killing
microorganisms, it is not currently available. That
leaves the Purebrush device, which costs $79.95 and
works with any toothbrush (manual, electric or sonic).
Studies show it effectively kills any germs left after
brushing and rinsing, and it protects the brush from
airborne or other opportunistic contaminations.
After extensive research on toothbrush hygiene, Glass
has signed on as medical advisor to Purebrush. He
stresses that he does not profit from sales. "With
UV sterilization you won't have to worry about contamination,
but you should still change your brushes every two
weeks to avoid creating portals of entry."
Toothbrush tips.
But not everyone can afford to purchase an ultraviolet
light system or even replace their high-tech toothbrush
every fortnight. So here are some general recommendations
to help avoid "brushborne" germs:
Don't keep your brushes in the bathroom. Store them
in the open air in the bedroom, the cleanest room
in the house.
Every family member should have a clearly identifiable,
color-coded brush to avoid cross contamination.
Transparent or translucent colored brushheads seem
to resist contamination better than opaque or solid
colored brushheads. The reason for this is unclear,
but it may be that natural UV rays travel more freely
through non-opaque substances.
Brushes with less dense configurations of bristles,
such as two- and three-row brushes, are generally
more germ resistant than those with four and five
rows.
When traveling, always use a new toothbrush, and replace
it after the trip. Studies show that the cheaper your
hotel room is, the greater the amount of germs in
the bathroom.
Brushes should be changed at the beginning of an illness
and after you feel completely better.
In general, it's better to buy a bunch of cheaper
brushes and change them more often than to spend so
much on a fancy brush that you feel you should keep
it around. "You should think of it like disposable
contact lenses," explains Glass. "Your toothbrush
isn't a lifelong friend."
Featured Articles
Customer Testimonials
-
- "Purebrush provides the protection they need..."
- "Because people forget to change their toothbrushes as often as they should, Purebrush provides the protection they need."
-
- "Dr visits have decreased dramatically..."
- Purebrush is wonderful! I have two small children and our doctor visits have decreased dramatically since we purchased our Purebrush. I really think your product is great and I believe that you are doing a great thing for people's health.
Read More