Your mouth houses millions of germs. When you use your toothbrush to remove these from your mouth, it becomes contaminated with saliva, debris, bacteria, blood and toothpaste. While most people rinse their toothbrush before brushing to help wash away some of this bacteria, it might not be enough. Even when your toothbrush looks clean, it could still be contaminated with potential organisms.
That’s why you want to take precautionary steps to do the best you can at caring for your toothbrush.
Recommended Care of the Toothbrush
- Never share your toothbrush with someone else. They contain germs even after you rinse them off. Sharing with another person just spreads the germs further.
- When you’ve finished brushing, make sure you rinse the toothbrush off well until it’s visibly clean. Then, allow it to air-dry and keep it stored upright. If you place more than one toothbrush in a holder, make sure they don’t touch one another.
- Do not soak your toothbrush in mouthwash or disinfecting solutions. This has been shown to further spread germs under certain conditions.
- Do not put your toothbrush in a microwave, dishwasher or ultraviolet device. While you might think this disinfects them, it actually leads to further damage.
- Try not to cover your toothbrush or store it in a closed container. This allows the bacteria to multiply rapidly. If you have to travel and store your toothbrush, make sure you remove it and rinse it as soon as possible.
- Remember to replace your toothbrush every three months. If the bristles look worn out before then, replace it sooner. You’ll also want to replace it after you’ve been sick to avoid recontamination.
Talk to Your Dentist
If you have further questions about how to care for your toothbrush, talk to your Fort Lee NJ Dentist
who’s an expert. The dentist provides lots of great tips and tricks for keeping your mouth healthy.
