QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF TOOTHBRUSH BRISTLE END MORPHOLOGY – A LIGHT MICROSCOPIC ANALYSIS I.Nanda Balan * , M.Shivakumar, P.D.Madan Kumar. Department of Public Health Dentistry, 2/102, ECR, Ragas Dental College & Hospital, Chennai 600 119, India *Address Correspondence to: I.Nanda Balan, Phone No: 9841233066, Email: drnanda85@gmail.com Abstract: Aim: To assess the morphology of toothbrush bristle end by using Light Microscope and to evaluate the percentage of rounded-end bristles which are considered to be acceptable as recommended by American Dental Association. Materials and Methods: Three leading toothbrushes brands available in India were included for the present study. The bristles were removed and mounted on a glass slide and secured using cover slip. The end morphology of the bristles was then assessed for acceptability using Light Microscope at 45 X magnification. Results: The toothbrushes assessed showed an acceptability ranging from 87% - 93.3% in all the three brands. The mean acceptability was 90.06% in Brand A, 89.46% in Brand B, and 90.72% in Brand C. Conclusion: In the present study, acceptability of bristle end morphology as recommended by American Dental Association ranged from 87% - 93.3% in all the three brands. Keywords: ADA recommendation, Toothbrush bristle end morphology, Light Microscope. Introduction: Oral health is an integral part of general health, and tooth brush is the most common device used for maintaining good oral hygiene [1]. Further, toothbrush is the fundamental tool used for accomplishing plaque control, as plaque is one of the major etiological factors for dental caries and periodontal diseases. An ideal toothbrush may be defined as the one which removes plaque effectively [1]. Toothbrush bristles with rounded ends allow for efficient removal of plaque and are less harmful to periodontal tissues than non-rounded bristles [2]. Hence it is ideal to use a toothbrush with rounded ends to minimize dental abrasion and gingival lesion. American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that the toothbrush bristles end should be free of sharp or jagged edges and endpoints to be accepted in terms of minimal gingival and dental abrasion [3]. Studies done by Klima and Rossiwall (1978) [4], Silverstone and Featherstone (1988) [2] also stated that rounded ends are superior as they produce fewer gingival lesions when compared to non-rounded brisltes. In a highly populated country like India according to Consumer Usage and Attitude Survey conducted by Indian Market Research Bureau 2010, only 51% of people were found to be using toothbrush and toothpaste to clean their teeth. However, in India with various types of toothbrushes available in the market, there exists no standardization or recommendation regarding the characteristics of an ideal tooth brush or its bristle end morphology. Lack of standardization, coupled with variation in the method of manufacture of tooth brushes has made it difficult for the consumers to choose a right toothbrush to maintain their oral health. Hence this study was contemplated to assess the end morphology of tooth brush bristles of various commercially available toothbrushes in the market as it will give an idea about the quality of toothbrushes. Further this study also assessed the number and percentage of acceptable and non-acceptable tooth brush bristle end morphology as recommended by the ADA. I.Nanda Balan et al. / International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biological Research (IJPBR) ISSN : 0976- 285X Vol 3 Issue 2 Apr-May 2012 22