Situation of toothbrushes in the Thai market (2014-2025)

Abstract

This study aimed to compare toothbrush characteristics from surveys conducted in 2014 and 2019 and to identify factors associated with the quality of toothbrushes in the Thai market in 2019, as well as to study the market sales continuity between 2019 and 2025. By using cross-sectional analytical study, the first part used data on toothbrush characteristics, which was secondary data from toothbrush quality surveillance surveys conducted in 2014 and 2019 from databased of the Dental Health Bureau, Department of Health. The second part consists of interview data with toothbrush sellers from 10 stores and data on toothbrushes sold in 2025 in stores or online, along with data displayed on websites from e-Marketplace platforms during the study period of 2025. The study found that the number of brush models sold increased from 270 and 293 in 2014 and 2019 to 557 in 2025. The proportion of toothbrushes that did not pass quality standards in 2019 was higher than in 2014. The factors “imported from abroad” together with “price not exceeding 20 baht” had a statistically significant negative effect on the quality of toothbrushes. Toothbrushes with the two factors had a risk of failing the quality criteria 8.7 times higher than toothbrushes priced higher than 20 baht and produced domestically.  The most common failures were due to defective bristle tips, which were more commonly found in tapered tips than rounded tips, followed by tuft retention failures. Toothbrush which model name still listed on the market until 2025 is 2.6 times more likely to pass the quality criteria than an outdated toothbrush. The store used the criteria for selecting products to sell based on customer demand, first considering past sales, along with the frequency of advertising in the media/sales promotion, and the reliable brand/manufacturer. Therefore, the results of toothbrush quality testing and methods for checking the condition of the bristles should be communicated to consumers, both the public and organizations with toothbrush purchasing projects, to use as guidelines for purchasing products.