Physical conditions and conditioning of toothbrushes for preschool children

Aim: To macroscopically observe the physical, sanitary-hygienic, and packaging conditions of toothbrushes of preschool children enrolled in municipal daycare centers in Campina Grande, PB, Brazil. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed 407 toothbrushes, considering identification, physical conditions, the presence of solid waste, and packaging sites. Data were collected by means of a specific form and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The intrarater agreement diagnosis of the physical conditions of the brushes was measured by the Kappa statistical test (0.90). Results: It was found that 92.6% of the toothbrushes presented an individual identification, of which 83.3% were legible, made primarily with a ballpoint pen and medical tape (32.1%). Many of the brushes presented residues (69.5%), and 84.0% were suggestive of toothpastes. Regarding the physical conditions, 44.7% of the toothbrushes were considered to have been used very little. The packaging of the toothbrushes was conducted mostly in collective (99.5%), plastic (37.5%) and open (52.3%) toothbrush carriers, with contact between the bristles and the toothbrush carrier (75.4%). Conclusion: Most of the analysed toothbrushes showed a good physical condition; however, considering the sanitary conditions, there is a need for advice to caregivers of day care centers as regards the proper packaging and control of waste from toothbrushes. Uniterms: Tooth brushing. Child day care centers. Health education. REFERÊNCIAS 1. Cortelli JR, Thénoux RES. The effect of mouth rinses against oral microorganisms. Braz. Oral Res. 2007; 21(1):23-8. 2. Strużycka I. The oral microbiome in dental caries. Polish Journal of Microbiology. 2014; 63(1):12735. 3. Sharma NC, Qaqish J, Walters PA, Grender J, Biesbrock AR. A clinical evaluation of the plaque removal efficacy of five manual toothbrushes. J. Clin. Dent. 2010; 21(1):8-12. 4. Chibinski ACR, Grando K, Fanchin PT, Campagnoli E, Santos FA, Wambier DS. Descontaminação de escovas dentais utilizadas por crianças portadoras de necessidades especiais: análise microbiológica. RSBO. 2011; 8(2):14552. 5. Karibasappa GN, Nagesh L, Sujatha BK. Assessment of microbial contamination of toothbrush head: an in vitro study. Indian. J. Dent. Res. 2011; 22(1):2-5. 6. Richards D. How clean is your toothbrush? Evid Based Dent. 2012; 13:111. 7. Araújo RJG. Contaminação, desinfecção e acondicionamento de escovas dentais. Rev. Bras. Odontol Mil. 2012; 29(1):44-54. 8. Da Silva LAB, Filho PN, Saravia ME, Rossi A, Lucisano MP, Silva RAB. Mutans streptococci remained viable on toothbrush bristles, in vivo, for 44h. Int. J. Paediatr. Dent. 2014; 24(4):36772. 9. Ferreira GTS, Freixinho ABS, Machado SJ, Miasato JM. Verificação da contaminação e forma de armazenamento de escovas dentais em um grupo de adolescentes de uma escola da rede privada de ensino. Rev. Odontol. Univ. Cid. São Paulo. 2013; 25(1):6-10. 10. Frazelle MR, Munro CL. Toothbrush contamination: a review of the literature. Nurs. Res. Pract. 2012; 2012(1):1-6. 11. American Dental Association. For the dental patient. Toothbrush care, cleaning and replacement. J. Amer. Dental Assoc. 2008; 139(4):415. 12. Moreira ACS, Cavalcante GM. Influência da higienização na contaminação de escovas dentais. Arq. Ciênc. Saúde Unipar. 2008; 12(1): 99-103. 13. Rosema NA, Hennequin-Hoenderdos NL, Versteeg PA, Van Palenstein Helderman WH, Van der Velden U, Van der Weijden GA. Plaqueremoving efficacy of new and used manual toothbrushes: a professional brushing study. Int. J. Dent. Hyg. 2013; 11(2):237-43. 14. Passos IA, Massoni ACLT, Ferreira JMS, Forte FDS, Sampaio FC. Avaliação das condições