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Toothbrushes act as a reservoir for a variety of microorganisms, possibly leading to oral infection. Some manufacturers are marketing toothbrushes that incorporate materials such as charcoal in their bristles and claiming that they reduce bacterial contamination. The present study aimed to explore the antimicrobial nature of charcoal-infused and non-charcoal-infused bristles and to characterize both bristle types physically and morphologically to ascertain any differences that might influence their antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial property was analyzed using separate standard microbial solutions of Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans to contaminate 40 commercially available toothbrushes of each bristle type, charcoal-infused and non-charcoal-infused (80 toothbrushes total), and microbial colonies were established. Each toothbrush head was rinsed 4 times in sterile tap water to simulate the brushing cycle, and the microbial counts of the rinsing solutions were recorded after the second and fourth rinses. After the fourth rinse, the toothbrush heads were left to dry for 20 hours, and the final microbial retention counts were recorded. The physical and morphologic characteristics of both bristle types were analyzed using Laser Raman spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The microbiologic analysis showed a statistically significant decrease in colony counts from initial exposure to final retention of both microbes for both types of toothbrush (P < 0.05; Wilcoxon signed rank test). However, intergroup comparisons showed no significant differences between the brush types in final retention of either microbe. Raman spectroscopy showed similar carbon compositions for both types of bristle. No significant difference was found between the 2 types of toothbrushes regarding their characterization or antimicrobial activity. Therefore, before charcoal-infused toothbrushes are marketed as a means to reduce contamination, there is a need to identify an appropriate concentration, ascertain the mechanism of action, and Identify the pathogen-specific action of charcoal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The antimicrobial activity of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) has been confirmed to fight a broad spectrum of microorganisms, through antimicrobial effects that are amplified when these particles are irradiated with light of the proper wavelength. This is the first study to use phytoconjugated Zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs containing traces of active biomolecules derived from Emblica officinalis (E. officinalis) plant extract in antimicrobial photocatalysis (PCT) during non-surgical periodontal therapy., Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of repeated PCT application in the treatment of periodontitis, using a gel containing bio-hydrothermally synthesized ZnO NPs and visible light as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP)., Methodology: In total, 16 systemically healthy volunteers with stage 3 grade B generalized periodontitis were recruited for this prospective double blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial. After receiving SRP, the subjects received the following interventions in a split-mouth design at baseline, 1 week and 1 month: Group 1 - Placebo gel + Sham PCT; Group 2 - Nano ZnO gel + Sham PCT; Group 3 - Placebo gel + PCT; and Group 4 - Nano ZnO gel + PCT. The site-specific profile of Porphyromonas gingivalis in the subgingival plaque and clinical parameters (Plaque Index, Gingival Index, Gingival Bleeding Index, Probing pocket Depth and Clinical Attachment Level) were assessed at baseline, 1 month and 3 months., Results: All interventions tested caused participants' clinical and microbiological parameters to generally improve after 3 months. Subjects who received the Nano ZnO gel + PCT combination showed a sustained and progressive improvement in their treatment outcomes, a result that presented statistically significant differences from the outcomes obtained through the remaining interventions, at all time points during the study period., Conclusions: The repeated application of PCT using bio-hydrothermally synthesized ZnO NPs can effectively complement SRP in the non-surgical treatment of Periodontitis.