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Updated: May 13, 2026

Pilot In Vitro Study to Assess Cleaning Ability and Effects of Different Decontamination Methods on Implant Surfaces

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Published on: November 21, 2025

EFFECTIVENESS OF DISINFECTION METHODS FOR TOOTHBRUSHES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS.

Jiachen Li¹, Qing Liu¹, Zhaojia Liang¹

¹Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

The Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice

|May 11, 2026

Summary

Disinfecting toothbrushes with chemical agents, home remedies, or physical methods significantly reduces bacterial load. While effective, high study heterogeneity necessitates cautious interpretation and further research.

Keywords:

Chlorhexidine Meta-analysis Systematic review Toothbrush disinfection Ultraviolet sterilization

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Published on: March 14, 2025

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Infectious Diseases
Dental Hygiene

Background:

Toothbrush contamination poses a risk for microbial transmission.
Effective disinfection methods are crucial for maintaining oral hygiene and preventing cross-infection.

Purpose of the Study:

To systematically evaluate and compare the effectiveness of various toothbrush disinfection strategies.
To synthesize evidence on chemical disinfection, home remedies, and physical disinfection methods.

Main Methods:

A comprehensive literature search was conducted across four databases for studies published between 2000 and 2024.
Included studies underwent risk of bias assessment, followed by meta- and subgroup analyses.
Effectiveness was measured by the pooled reduction in bacterial load.

Main Results:

Forty-one studies (8 RCTs, 33 non-RCTs) were analyzed, showing significant bacterial load reduction across all three strategies (P < .001).
Home remedies demonstrated the greatest overall effect (SMD -2.97), with 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX) (SMD -3.17) and 50% white vinegar (SMD -2.52) showing extremely large effects.
Ultraviolet (UV)-based disinfection was also effective (SMD -1.79), but substantial heterogeneity and low certainty of evidence were noted.

Conclusions:

Chemical disinfection (CHX), home remedies, and physical disinfection effectively reduce toothbrush contamination.
Home remedies and physical disinfection present promising accessible alternatives to the reference standard, CHX.
High heterogeneity and risk of bias across studies warrant cautious interpretation; high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm efficacy.