Contamination of toothpaste and toothbrush by Streptococcus mutans

Toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes used by persons infected with S. mutans were examined for the presence of this microorganism. Fifteen minutes after brushing greater than 10(6) S. mutans were isolated from the toothbrushes and after ordinary storage for 24 h 10(4) were recovered. From two out of 10 toothpaste tubes S. mutans was isolated from the orifice of the tube. The implications of these findings for the spread of the microorganism are discussed.