One may be tempted to say “I have not even finished taking care of my teeth and you are talking about toothbrush; please, spare me that!”
It is ok but don’t forget that unless the tooth brush is in good condition, your mouth will be in danger
You might not have thought about keeping your toothbrush as much as we would discuss here, since you’re wetting it every day to scrub your teeth. Relax, learning few more things won’t hurt. You may not realize what is hanging out on the bristles of your toothbrush as you reach for it each morning.
Toothbrushes can become contaminated with oral microorganisms whenever they are left out without proper care and this can often be injurious to one’s health
Ways to keep your toothbrushes safe for use are as follows:
- AVOID STORAGE IN A CLOSED CONTAINER AT HOME.
Moisture levels in a closed container are high and this creates an enabling environment for the growth of bacteria. However, when you travel, it should be kept in a container to prevent it from picking up any contaminants. Make sure it is dry before packing it in the casing.
- STORE YOUR TOOTHBRUSH IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION.
This is important to allow water drain from the bristles following use. Following use, shake it vigorously under running water and keep it in an upright position using a rack or cup or a holder, so it can dry out between uses.
If you use a cup, make sure the bristle faces up and the handle down so that your it doesn’t serve as breeding grounds for microorganisms.
- DON’T PLACE IT ON YOUR WATER CLOSET
Your toothbrush should be kept at least 2 feet from the toilet. This is because when you flush, tiny water particles which contains faecal matter can escape the toilet and land on your toothbrush if it is close by to the toilet. There is however insufficient evidence that these minute amounts of microorganisms could result in any illness.
- MAKE SURE YOUR TOOTHBRUSHES ARE NOT IN CONTACT WITH ONE ANOTHER.
When using a single container to store multiple toothbrushes, ensure they don’t make contact with one another. This is to avoid cross contamination.
- YOUR TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER SHOULD BE CLEANED ONCE IN A WEEK.
This is particularly important if you use a cup or a container with a closed base. Microorganisms which accumulate within the toothbrush holder can get transmitted to the toothbrush, and subsequently to your mouth. Wash with soap and water and allow drying.
- REPLACE EVERY 3–4 MONTHS
After three months of normal regular use, wear and tear is inevitable. This make the toothbrushes less effective at cleaning compared to new ones. This also includes the electrically powered ones (power models), the toothbrush attachment should be replaced every 3-4 months also.