Take Care of Your Toothbrush!
As you reach for your toothbrush each morning, you may not realize what’s hanging out on its bristles. Viruses and bacteria from an infected person’s mouth can live for weeks on a toothbrush surface, and continue to cause illness. So when is the last time you gave your toothbrush any serious thought? Sure, you use it every day (hopefully more than once), and you know that with a dollop of toothpaste it waxes up your pearly whites nicely, not to mention preventing bacteria, plaque, and inflammation.
But what are the things you should never do with your toothbrush? Here’s a brush-up on five toothbrush no-nos, from Smile Sarasota.
- Gross Alert! If you have your toothbrush too close to the toilet, you’re brushing your teeth with what’s in your toilet. Flushing spreads all kinds of stuff into the air. In other words, keep your toothbrush stored as far from the toilet as possible.
- The average toothbrush harbors ten million microbes. Many families keep their toothbrushes jammed together in a cup holder on the bathroom sink, but this can lead to cross-contamination. Family members’ toothbrushes should be kept an inch apart. Don’t worry; they won’t take it personally.
- Don’t delay replacing your toothbrush. It’s best to purchase a new one every three to four months, but by all means get one sooner if the bristles are broken down because of your frequent and vigorous brushing. If you have a cold or the flu, replace your toothbrush after you recover. Treat electric or power ultrasonic models the same way you handle an old-fashioned one.
- Store it properly. After use, don’t pop that wet toothbrush back into your medicine cabinet, drawer, or bathroom cup and forget about it. Store it upright, in a rack or cup, where it can dry out. Look for a cover that lets air circulate and prevents mold, but isn’t completely sealed. The lack of air can foster bacteria. Store your toothbrush out of the reach of toddlers. The last thing you want is for your toothbrush to be chewed like a pacifier, dipped in toilet water, or used to probe the tile grout.
- Sharing – um…NO! Your parents probably taught you the importance of sharing back when you were, well, dipping their improperly stored toothbrushes in toilet water. But here’s the thing: As important as sharing is, there are some things you just don’t share, and your toothbrush is one of them.
If you have any questions about toothbrush care, give Smile Sarasota a call and any one of our fabulous team members can help!
Sources and Credits: American Dental Association, Colgate, WebMD, University of Florida School of Dentistry
