VIOlight^® Science & Technology – Toothbrush Sanitization Effectiveness

Problem:
Environmental enteric bacterial contamination (i.e., bathrooms).

Potential Risk to Patients:
The moist environment of toothbrushes makes them a breeding ground for bacterial cultivation, which may recontaminate the patient’s oral cavity every time they brush.

VIOlight’s UV Technology as a Solution:
VIOlight’s germicidal UV-C light reduces cultivatable bacteria on toothbrushes, reducing transmission of pathogenic germs.*

Upwards of 10,000,000 microorganisms have been found on one single toothbrush. They thrive in environments like toothbrush bristles, and are the same ones known to contribute to gum disease, cavities, and even diarrheal illness.*

• Influenza virus (the flu)
• Herpes simplex I
• Streptococci
• Staphylococci
• Yeasts and other bacteria

Help your patients—and increase your income in the process—by helping them change their toothbrush BehaVIOr.

*Data on File.

Supporting Scientific Data

Title: “VIOlight Toothbrush Sanitizer Information Report.”

Summary: A study¹ 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 study² 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. Read more.

1. Data on file, VIOlight Inc.
2. Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services, Inc. Technical Report #(5104)085-0128, March 29, 2004. Available online at:
   http://store.cleanair4life.com/Product_PDF/VIOlight_testResults.pdf. Accessed April 28, 2009.

VIOlight Clinical Information

Title: “Reduction in bacterial contamination of toothbrushes using the VIOlight ultraviolet light activated toothbrush sanitizer.”

Summary: Two-armed, self-controlled, investigator-blinded clinical study from the NYU College of Dentistry that tested the efficacy of VIOlight in decreasing toothbrush bacterial contamination. Twenty-five subjects participated and results suggest the VIOlight toothbrush holder can decrease bacterial contamination between uses. Read more.

VIOlight White Paper

Title: “The Role of Ultraviolet light in keeping a germ-free toothbrush”

Summary: Discusses the natural balance of helpful and harmful oral pathogenic bacteria, honing in on the bathroom, a bacterial “breeding ground.” UV-C light has been proven bactericidal to a wide array of bacterial species, including antibiotic-resistant species, and has been extensively used in water purification systems. Article discusses how the light works, specifically the “C” band of UV light that VIOlight uses, to reduce the transmission of pathogenic germs. Read more.

VIOlight H1N1 Information

Title:“Virucidal Efficacy Evaluation of VIOlight Ultraviolet Sanitization Device
using Swine Influenza Virus (H1N1)”

Summary: A recent independent laboratory test conducted by MICROBIOTEST, has proven the VIOlight toothbrush sanitizer to be effective in the virtual elimination of swine flu virus from toothbrush bristles. The report identifies VIOlight’s ultraviolet germicidal light as the “active ingredient,” or defense, in killing an impressive 99.999% of the swine flu virus within six minutes. Read more.