Your Toothbrush and You.

I thought to share this topic with you today.

As you reach for your toothbrush each morning, you may not realize what’s hanging out on its bristles.

“Toothbrushes can become contaminated with oral microbial organisms whenever they are placed in the mouth,” 

Viruses and bacteria from an infected person’s mouth can live for weeks on a toothbrush surface, and continue to cause illness,

Even normal, healthy micro-organisms can cause infections, especially if they enter your gum tissue due to an injury, a break, or an oral ulcer.

Toothbrushes don’t have to be sold in sterile packaging, so they may have bacteria right out of the box.

Keeping it Clean

You may not give much thought to cleaning your toothbrush, since you’re wetting it every day to scrub your teeth. However, it’s important -- and easy -- to do.

Wash it. Give your toothbrush a thorough rinse with tap water to remove debris. If you have a systemic illness or immune disorder, you may want to soak it in antibacterial mouthwash.

Try deep cleaning. There are many types of toothbrush sanitizers on the market.

Store it properly. After use, don’t pop that wet toothbrush back into your bathroom cup and forget about it.

Store it upright, in a rack or cup, but not somewhere it can’t dry out. Look for a cover that lets air and prevents mold, but isn’t completely sealed. The lack of air can foster bacteria. 

How long should you keep a toothbrush? Here are a few useful tips:

Know when to let go. Replace your toothbrush about every three to four months, or when it shows signs of wear. “Frayed bristles will not clean the teeth and gums adequately,”

Toss toothbrushes after illness. Throw away a brush you or anyone in your home used while they were sick.