Toothbrush Bacteria Science Fair Project

What You Need:

Electric toothbrush
Toothpaste
18 petrie dishes
Nutrient auger
Sterile swabs
Distilled water
Timer

Demonstrates Science Category: Microbiology
Ages: Middle School Science, 5th grade science fair projects, High School Science

4 minutes

What To Do:

1) Fill 18 sterile petrie dishes with auger
2) Label each dish 1-18
3) Wet sterile swab with distilled water
4) Swab left side bottom molars at each collection
5) Wipe swab in petrie dish auger to innoculate
6) Place toothpaste on toothbrush and brush for 1 minute
7) Rinse mouth, swab molars
8) Swab mouth again, wipe in petrie dish #1
9) Brush again for 1 more minute
10)Swab same teeth again
11) Wipe in petrie dish
12) Repeat 5 times

Demonstrates scientific principles: Bacteriology

This middle school science fair project hypothesis that brushing your teeth for two minutes rather than one minutes. This boy's hypothesis was indeed correct- brushing for two minutes reduces bacteria more so than only brushing for one.

Where would you like to go next?

...See more of our free science experiments by age group, science type, or an alphabetical listing of all experiments?

...Download printable science project plans for K-12?

...Learn how to score top grades on your science fair project?

...Or pick up science kits for your project?

Submit Your Science Experiments

Send in your great science experiments to keep this site fresh & fun.

Submit your science experiments and you may be included in our upcoming newsletter as well as website!

Toothbrush Bacteria Science Fair Project Page