Comparison of the Antimicrobial Effect of Hydrogen Water and Chlorhexidine Mouth rinse in Toothbrush Disinfection Among Dental Students.

Abstract

A comparative study enrolled 30 dental students divided into two equal groups: one group soaked toothbrushes in hydrogen-rich water and the other in chlorhexidine mouthrinse for 10 minutes daily over a 7-day period, with brushing performed twice daily. Bristle segments were collected, incubated for 24 hours, and colony-forming units (CFU) were enumerated. Toothbrushes disinfected with hydrogen-rich water showed significantly lower CFU counts compared with those disinfected using chlorhexidine. The findings indicate that hydrogen-rich water possesses superior antimicrobial activity against toothbrush-associated microorganisms relative to the conventional chlorhexidine standard, suggesting its potential utility as a routine toothbrush disinfectant.

Mechanism

The antioxidant properties of hydrogen-rich water are proposed to scavenge reactive oxygen species, thereby inhibiting microbial colonization and reducing colony-forming unit counts on toothbrush bristles.