SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted, even from asymptomatic individuals, in different ways, including drops, aerosols, and, to a lesser extent, fomites.
Now, Brazilian researchers have evaluated the use of these products in a toothbrush disinfection protocol, according to an article published online at The Journal of Infectious Diseases.
As the authors pointed out in the text, published as a letter to the editor, people infected with SARS-CoV-2 have “high viral loads in saliva, nasopharynx, and oropharynx,” which can occur even in asymptomatic people.
Given that toothbrushes can act as reservoirs of microorganisms and promote the transmission of diseases such as COVID-19, the authors believe that disinfection of brushes would be important to control virus transmission in shared spaces.
A recent study showed that commercially available mouthwashes can inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. The results showed that antiseptic solutions containing ethanol and essential oils, exemplified by the brand Listerine Cool Mint, to name one, had satisfactory effects on reducing viral load.
However, there are still no specific studies evaluating the efficacy of different mouthwash solutions in the disinfection of toothbrushes, nor randomized trials showing that the use of these solutions would have, in clinical practice, a protective role against COVID-19 transmission
Disinfection protocol
As the authors propose after reviewing the available data on the subject, disinfection of toothbrushes should follow the following steps:
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Wash your hands with soap and water or disinfect them with 70% alcohol
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Disinfect the surface of the toothbrush handle with 70% alcohol for 1 minute
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Brush your teeth
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Wash the brush and disinfect the surface of the handle with 70% alcohol for 1 minute
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Let the brush head soak in a solution with ethanol and essential oils for 20 minutes
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Store the brush individually after letting it dry
According to the authors, the steps to disinfect the toothbrush with 70% alcohol are important when washing in collective environments, such as schools or the workplace, and do not need to take -take them in the home environment, if you don’t want to.
Another important observation made by the authors: brushes used by individuals known to be positive for SARS-CoV-2 should be discarded immediately after use. He in vitro the studies reviewed for the elaboration of the protocol showed that it was possible to observe a satisfactory reduction of the viral load with only 30 seconds of exposure to the tested solution. However, it is important to note that the toothbrush has retentive niches of microorganisms due to its design, hence the recommendation to dive for longer.
More studies are needed
“Toothbrushes play an essential role in oral hygiene, but they can also act as reservoirs of microorganisms, favoring the transmission of diseases in healthy and sick individuals,” the authors write.
Although the in vitro the effectiveness of the solution of essential oils and ethanol, as well as that of alternative solutions such as povidone-iodine, has been demonstrated in more than one study, further research is needed.
“[R]andomized clinical trials are needed to verify the effectiveness of oral rinsing to prevent the spread of the virus, including evaluation of toothbrush disinfection, ”the authors conclude.
The authors have not disclosed any relevant financial relationship.
J Infecta Dis. Published online December 28, 2020. Full text
This article originally appeared in the Portuguese edition of Medscape.
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