J Korean Acad Oral Health.  2022 Dec;46(4):222-227. 10.11149/jkaoh.2022.46.4.222.

A study on the bristles of commercial toothbrush in Korea

• Kim DW
• Kim JE
• Choi CH

• KMID: 2537818
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11149/jkaoh.2022.46.4.222

Abstract

Objectives
This study aimed to investigate the bristle tip morphology of toothbrushes sold in the Korean market.
Methods
Tufts were taken from each of the 69 different toothbrushes that were selected. The bristle specimens thus prepared were observed under a phase-contrast microscope. The images taken by the microscope were then classified as round, tapered, or mixed. The proportion of acceptable rounded-end bristles and tapered bristles was then determined.
Results
Of the randomly selected 69 toothbrushes, 42 were domestic and 27 were imported. Of the domestic toothbrushes, the proportion of acceptable toothbrushes was 52.4%, whereas the corresponding proportion was 77.8% for imported products. In terms of classification based on tooth brushing techniques, 55.0% of all manual toothbrushes had round-ended bristles. Moreover, based on classification by age, 67.2% of the toothbrushes for adults were acceptable and 75.0% of tooth brushes for children were termed non-acceptable.
Conclusions
The majority of toothbrushes sold in the Korean markets have acceptable bristles. However, not one toothbrush had 100% acceptable bristles. The manufactures should improve their manufacturing processes to produce bristles of the intended quality.

Keyword

Bristle; Morphology; Round; Tapered; Toothbrush