Breaking Biological Barriers with a Toothbrush

Abstract

Toothbrushing exposes epithelia and other tissues of the oral cavity to mechanical stress. Here, we investigated whether brushing induces cell wounding--plasma membrane disruption--in epithelial and other cell types in the oral cavity. Brushing of the gingivae and tongues of rats resulted in a striking increase in the number of cells positive for a marker of disruption injury. These cells included those in all strata of the gingival epithelium, and in the skeletal muscle of the tongue. Additionally, we found that brushing resulted in an increase in c-fos expression by junctional epithelial and skeletal muscle cells. Epithelial barrier function, however, was not overtly affected by brushing, despite the observed individual injuries to cells. We concluded that brushing disrupts cell plasma membrane barriers in the oral cavity and activates gene expression events that may lead to local adaptive changes in tissue architecture beneficial to gingival health.

Effect of photodynamic therapy for the treatment of halitosis in adolescents – a controlled, microbiological, clinical trial

“…One advantage of antimicrobial PDT over a tongue scraper is the lack of an aggressive effect caused by the mechanical removal of coated tongue, which can lead to the rupture of the plasma membrane of tongue cells and cause micro‐hemorrhaging . Thus, mechanical tongue cleaning should be performed gently and carefully, which often does not occur in the case of adolescent patients.…”

Oral hygiene and periodontal considerations in preventing and managing dentine hypersensitivity

“…In contrast to the soft tissue abrasion theory to which many ascribe, a recent investigation proposed a completely different theory based on the premise that cell damage caused by brushing may help keep gums healthy 36 . Bristles engaged with even gentle force tear holes in the epithelial cells that line the gingivae and tongue, causing a momentary rupture.…”

“…According to the authors, the resultant cell injury also turns on expression of the c-fos-gene, an early-response gene often activated under stress that may be the first step in a response such as cell division or growth. They concluded that in addition to removal of harmful bac-terial plaque and debris from the teeth, that "brushing could lead to local cell-adaptive responses ultimately of benefit to gingival health" 36 . Other areas of interest identified by the authors include determining if the method and/or type of brush might strongly influence the extent of epithelial cell-wounding and subsequent liberation of factors that promote gum health.…”

Germicidal activity of antimicrobials and VIOlight® Personal Travel Toothbrush Sanitizer: An in vitro study

“…6 In fact, several studies have also shown that certain oral bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis can possibly be transmitted between spouses 7 and siblings as well as from parents to children. 8 Although the friction resulting from brushing has been long recognized to be a stimulating factor for the oral epithelium, 9 we still need to remember the potential transmissibility of bacteria into the hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity and overall body while using the toothbrush.…”