Why VIOlight?

Your Toothbrush Cleans Your Teeth. What Cleans Your Toothbrush?

A single toothbrush can harbor millions of microorganisms, which translate into harmful bacteria — bacteria that thrive in the warm, moist environment of the average bathroom. VIOlight stops these microorganisms dead in their track. Independent studies prove that the patent-pending VIOlight system eliminates up to 99.9% of bacteria that thrive on your toothbrush. That's millions of microscopic bugs that can cause flu, colds and other illnesses, zapped in minutes!


How Many Germs Are Living on Your Toothbrush?

We asked an independent laboratory to collect toothbrushes from America's bathrooms, and test them for bacteria. Here's what happened after the testing. These are real people, and real results!




As Easy as Brush, Store and Sanitize
VIOlight uses a germicidal UV bulb — the same technology used in hospitals — to kill germs. A blue-violet glow lets you know the sanitizer is working. The entire process takes minutes. When finished, the bulb automatically shuts off and your toothbrush is fresh, clean, and protected for the next time you brush!

VIOlight Toothbrush Sanitizer Information Report

Did You Know...?

A number of studies suggest that oral heath is associated with general health. Advanced gum disease has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, premature delivery in pregnant women, and stroke.

Researchers have found more than 10,000,000 bacteria living on a single toothbrush.

Tooth decay is caused by bacteria that can survive on toothbrushes.

Viruses that cause colds, flu, and fever blisters can survive for many days on toothbrushes.

Droplets produced by flushing toilets can harbor bacteria and viruses that can remain airborne long enough to settle on surfaces. Thus, a person could acquire an infection from an aerosol produced by a toilet.

The Problem

USA Today Health Review for April 27, 2000 reported: "The most serious threat to your everyday health may be hanging in plain sight in your bathroom."

Influenza (the flu) virus, herpes simplex I, streptococci, staphylococci, yeasts, and the bacteria that cause gum disease, cavities, and even diarrheal illness can survive --some even thrive-- in high numbers on toothbrushes.

Some researchers have even found biofilm - colonies of breeding bacteria - on toothbrushes, and numbers as high as 100,000,000 microorganisms have been recovered from individual brushes.

Because most people keep their toothbrushes in the bathroom, bacteria from the mouth isn't the only contaminant. Flushing propels germs from the toilet into the air, where they can land on toothbrushes. Toothbrushes are usually stored together, so contact between family members' toothbrushes can spread germs from one brush to another.

Bacteria, molds, and fungi love moist environments, like the bathroom. They also do well in the dark, so the medicine cabinet provides an ideal environment for germs to survive and even multiply.

Toothbrushes become infected some time between one week and one month after initial use. The ADA and most dentists recommend changing toothbrushes only every three to four months.

Some sources report that most American are likely to change their toothbrushes only twice a year. The Solution Ultraviolet (UV) light is a proven germicide.

It kills fungi like yeasts and molds; disease-causing bacteria like strep, salmonella, and E. coli; and even some hearty viruses like influenza and hepatitis.

The Proof

Numerous studies have shown ultraviolet light to be effective in killing germs on toothbrushes.

UV toothbrush sanitizers have been reported to kill of bacteria, yeasts, and viruses.

A study* performed on the VIOlight Toothbrush Sanitizer by Dr. Philip Tierno, Jr., PhD, Director Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Associate Professor, Departments of Microbiology and Pathology, New York University Medical Center, found that the VIOlight eliminated up to 99.9% of bacteria tested on toothbrushes.

Another study* by Bureau Veritas, a global independent testing laboratory, also found that the VIOlight Toothbrush Sanitizer eliminated up to 99.9% of germs tested on toothbrushes.


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Supporting References & Bibliography Abraham NJ, Cirincione UK, Glass RT. Dentists' and dental hygienists' attitudes toward toothbrush replacement and maintenance. Clin Prev Dent. 1990 Dec;12(5):28-33. Barker J, Bloomfield SF. Survival of Salmonella in bathrooms and toilets in domestic homes following salmonellosis. J Appl Microbiol. 2000 Jul;89(1):137-44. Bunetel L, Tricot-Doleux S, Agnani G, Bonnaure-Mallet M. In vitro evaluation of the retention of three species of pathogenic microorganisms by three different types of toothbrush. Oral Microbiol Immunol. 2000 Oct;15(5):313-6. Gerba CP, Wallis C, Melnick JL. Microbiological hazards of household toilets: droplet production and the fate of residual organisms. Appl Microbiol. 1975 Aug;30(2):229-37. Glass RT. Effectiveness of ultra-violet light toothbrush sanitizer on three microorganisms. Available at http://www.purebrush.com/clinicals_asp.htm. Accessed January 30, 2002. Glass RT, Jensen HG. The effectiveness of a u-v toothbrush sanitizing device in reducing the number of bacteria, yeasts and viruses on toothbrushes. J Okla Dent Assoc. 1994 Spring;84(4):24-8 Glass RT, Gense HG. More on the contaminated toothbrush: the viral story. Quintessence Intl 1988 Oct;19(10):713-6. Glass RT, Lare MM. Toothbrush contamination: a potential health risk? Quintessence Int. 1986 Jan;17(1):39-42. Gwinnett AJ, McNamara TF. Clinical evaluation of UV Sanitizer: effect on toothbrush contamination. Available at http://www.purebrush.com/clinicals_asp.htm. Accessed January 30, 2002. Kozai K, Iwai T, Miura K. Residual contamination of toothbrushes by microorganisms. ASDC J Dent Child. 1989 May-Jun;56(3):201-4. Malmberg E, Birkhed D, Norvenius G, Noren JG, Dahlen G. Microorganisms on toothbrushes at day-care centers. Acta Odontol Scand. 1994 Apr;52(2):93-8. Morgan J. USA Today Health News Reports. Your toothbrush may be a biohazard. April 27, 2000. Available at http://www.purebrush.com/featured_articles/read_fa.asp?article=usatoday Svanberg M. Contamination of toothpaste and toothbrush by Streptococcus mutants. Scand J Dent Res. 1978 Sep;86(5):412-4. Taji SS, Rogers AH. ADRF Trebitsch Scholarship. The microbial contamination of toothbrushes. A pilot study. Aust Dent J. 1998 Apr;43(2):128-30. Tortora GT. Evaluation of ultra-violet toothbrush sanitizer. Available at http://www.purebrush.com/clinicals_asp.htm. Accessed January 30, 2002. Verran J, Leahy-Gilmartin AA. Investigations into the microbial contamination of toothbrushes. Microbios. 1996;85(345):231-8.