ALWAYS SEPTIC

Evening Star, Issue 19664, 17 September 1927, Page 16

ALWAYS SEPTIC

THE MODERN TOOTHBRUSH INFLUENZA FOR PYORRHOEA “ 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 tbo toothbrush ” (says Mr P. D. Donovan, in the ‘Lancet’). “I am quite prepared to affirm that there is uo toothbrush, or thcro are very few toothbrushes in tho 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 a few bristles out and examining them bactcriologicully myself. I was surprised to fmd_ my own toothbrushes septic. Believing that tho easiest person to carry out experiments on is oneself, I throw them away and bought somo more. “These wero sterilised and examined, and found to be clean. They were then used in tho ordinary way, with ordinary toothpaste. They were washed, dipped in a mild mouth-wash, and put in the rack. Before the next tooth-brushing, some twelve _ hours later, they were examined again—still septic. This was repeated, using different pastes and mouth-washes, etc. Tho brushes were also hung in the sun outside the window before being put in the so-called antiseptic cases supplied by the manufacturers. Tho result was invariably _ the same. I extended tbesi examinations on many men Jiving in the same club as myself. Tbo net result was again the same.

“My method of examination was to take, in the first place, a few bristles. If they were found to bo septic that was quite enough. If they were clean, more were taken. I found that when examining the toothbrush after twelve hours’ rest—that is, before tho_ second 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 use the toothbrush was slightly septic, hut after twelve hours in tho rack or case it was strongly septic. In reality, the infection was being incubated in tho case for twelve hours.” Mr F. D. Donovan then gives a summary of bacteriological examinations of hundreds of brushes which bears out ail bis contentions, and concludes his ‘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 uso. “ I have put a sterile brush after use in 1-20 carbolic, and have continued to use it without it becoming infected. This is very hard on the brush, but a very good thing for the toothbrush manufacturers. Tho 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. “Tho prevention of much gum trouble lies in the uou-use of septic brushes. As toothbrushes have become a necessity in modern life, great care must be taken to see that they are kept clean in the manner stated. I do not suggest that septic toothbrushes are the activating cause of pyorrhtea alveolaris, but I do suggest most strongly that once the public realise this danger and deal with it, the number of cases of pyorrhoea will diminish to the small percentage that existed before the uso of toothbrushes became so prevalent. “I do not say that no eases of pyorrhoea alveolaris will exist. Pyorrhoea alveolaris existed before toothbrushes wero thought of. _ Tho modern prevalence of the disease is duo to the way in which tho mucous membranes of the mouth are irritated and their resistance lowered by these septic brushes. “In conclusion, I emphasise that pyorrhoea alveolaris is in uo way actively caused by the dirty brush; but that the ground is_ so prepared by tins constant irritation that the membranes fall an easy prey to the disease, should other predisposing conditions arise. Whatever may bo the activating cause, these filthy brushes are at the root of 00 per cent, of the cases, and the prevention is in the patient’s own hands. Tho few cases which occur independently of brush irritation could all the more certainly be dealt with.”