# Comparison of the Antimicrobial Effect of Hydrogen Water and Chlorhexidine Mouth rinse in Toothbrush Disinfection Among Dental Students.
> 歯科学生における歯ブラシ消毒への水素水とクロルヘキシジン洗口液の抗菌効果比較


## 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.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Vaishnavi C, Elangovan GP, Thirumal M, Prashanth SV, Deepika D, Pragathi TG
- **Journal**: J Pharm Bioallied Sci
- **Year**: 2025
- **PMID**: [40511014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40511014/)
- **DOI**: [10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_1565_24](https://doi.org/10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_1565_24)
- **PMC**: [PMC12156531](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12156531/)
- **Study type**: human randomized controlled trial
- **Delivery route**: hydrogen-rich water
- **Effect reported**: positive

## Delivery context

Hydrogen-rich water is a low-risk delivery route, but the achievable systemic hydrogen dose is bounded. For clinical applications, inhalation is the most efficient route; inhalation, however, carries explosion risk, and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10% applies to inhalation environments; high-concentration devices are documented in the Consumer Affairs Agency accident database and are not recommended).

## Safety notes

Hydrogen-rich water is a low-risk delivery route, but the achievable systemic hydrogen dose is bounded. For clinical applications, inhalation is the most efficient route; inhalation, however, carries explosion risk, and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10% applies to inhalation environments; high-concentration devices are documented in the Consumer Affairs Agency accident database and are not recommended).

See also:
- [Inhalation concentration and LFL / UFL](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/inhalation-concentration)
- [Consumer Affairs Agency accident cases](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/accident-cases)
- [Inhalation safety threshold lineage](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/lineage)

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> **Cite as**: H2 Papers — PMID 40511014. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/40511014
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [40511014](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40511014/)