Tips On How to Take Care of Your Toothbrush

Tips On

How to Take Care of Your Toothbrush

The toothbrush may seem an innocent device for personal hygiene, but it is a breeding ground for bacteria. According to some researches, bacteria start milling to your new toothbrush the moment you open its sealed container. It does not stop there. The bacteria keep coming and breeding on our toothbrushes, always invisible to our naked eyes.

It is important that we learn how to take care of our devices for personal hygiene. We are only harming ourselves if we don't. This matter concerns you not because you are a person with OCD. This concerns you because you personal health might be in jeopardy, and you just don't know it. You don't need to leave everything to your dental clinic. You have to take care of some personal guidance as well.

Don't store your toothbrush in dark places

Imagine your toothbrush in one of those comic strips where the toothbrush becomes a town and bacteria start invading it, destroying everything in their path. Only, this scenario is really happening. We just can't see the microscopic invasion. Bacteria grow in dark, moist places. We often store our toothbrushes inside bathroom cabinets. Although the inside of the cabinet itself is not moist, it's still dark. Generally, the bathroom is mostly wet, and there's moisture everywhere. Your toothbrush can easily be contaminated by whatever bacteria are in your bathroom. The best place to store your toothbrush is somewhere dry and far from the bathroom.

Avoid storing it at the same place with other toothbrushes

The human body is easily infected by diseases. These various diseases have lots of vessels, all just around us-some even within our reach. One of these vessels-or medium if you may-is (surprise!) your toothbrush. We always think that storing the family's toothbrushes in one place, say one tall glass for all the toothbrushes, is sweet and a symbol of solidarity. I'm sorry to break it to you, but it's unhygienic. Family members can easily pass diseases in this setup. This is another family habit you should break as soon as possible.

Clean it through running water

Dentists recommend to clean your toothbrush through running water. Afterward, you are discouraged to dry it by wiping it on a towel or other materials. Instead, you have to air dry it. It must be on an upright position while you are drying it out. Remember the first guideline as well. Store your toothbrush far from your bathroom.

Replace it every three to four months

This must be the most common advice (and warning) as far as toothbrush care goes. Not all of us can follow it faithfully though. There are many reasons. We are busy. We tend to forget. We don't have a budget for a new toothbrush. Of course, some are petty. But some of us still use them to keep our toothbrushes as long as possible. They are just forced to buy a new toothbrush when their current toothbrushes are already unrecognizable. This example is a worst-case scenario. And experts in oral care totally discourage this attitude. If possible, mark your calendars for the next toothbrush change to avoid forgetting.