Figures show that only about four in 10 people pay attention to the quality of the toothbrush they are buying, Dr Sophon Mekthon, deputy director-general of the Health Department, said yesterday.

In 2004, the department conducted a survey and found that about seven in 10 of the toothbrushes on store shelves met standards, he said.

Since 2002, manufacturers and distributors of toothbrushes have to provide consumer information on the package, such as the softness and sharpness of bristles.

The toothbrush is the most basic, but crucial utensil used in daily life to maintain oral hygiene, Sophon said, adding that bad toothbrushes could lead not only to poor dental health but also mouth injuries.

The department together with the Consumer Protection Board came up with the idea of ranking toothbrushes by a star system.

Toothbrush manufacturers and distributors are encouraged to summit their products for laboratory testing before being awarded stars to show on their labels.