How to Properly Sanitize a Toothbrush

Why Keeping Your Toothbrush Clean Matters

It’s not far from a fact that your mouth is naturally filled with bacteria due to everything that goes into your mouth. The larger the number of food you eat or the more frequently you do so, the greater your need to wash your mouth.

Dental checkups tend to be infrequent or when just needed, somewhat because of the cost of the dental procedures and its other fees to cover the whole service. So to minimize the chance of the bacteria building up in your mouth, you need to brush your teeth and tongue.

The practice of brushing your teeth properly has been emphasized since we were little. After every meal is just a routine a person has to follow for it is part of good oral hygiene that one has to practice. Have you ever thought about what lies in your toothbrush?

It may sound gross, but a single toothbrush can accumulate 100 million of bacteria if not

taken care of properly. Your toothbrush is responsible for keeping your teeth and gums clean and healthy thus, your cleaning tool also needs its own cleaning time.

Here are some tips on how and why you should kepp your toothbrushes clean:

Ways To Sanitize Your Toothbrush

1. The number one and easiest way to have your toothbrush secure is to place it in a safe and smart place. You must store it in an upright position and “alone.” Keeping multiple pieces of toothbrush in storage can create swapping of germs.
2. Let your toothbrush dry properly. Allow it to air dry. Avoid using caps or covers, for it causes moisture around the brush and may be a breeding ground for germs.
3. Change your toothbrush every three to four months after its use. With this, you can control and use a safe toothbrush to prevent the bacteria from staying inside your mouth. Brushes that children use must be replaced more frequently than adults. Also, replace (if necessary) your brushes after you’ve been ill.
4. Strictly no sharing policy. Have yourself your own toothbrush as well as any member of the family inside the house. Take note that it must be easily identifiable to prevent confusion among users.
5. Rinse your toothbrush with water every after use. Soaking your toothbrush in an antiseptic mouthwash to sanitize it.
6. Do not keep your toothbrush near the bathroom sink. Every time you flush your toilets, it sends up a spray amount of bacteria, which may possibly land on your toothbrush. Always keep it away from the toilet by putting in inside your cabinets.
7. Always use soft bristles type of brushes. Hard bristles can affect the gums and allow bacteria to enter.
8. Effervescent disinfecting tablets are also used to sanitize toothbrushes. Combine the tablet with water, and soaking the toothbrush will create bubbles, which indicates that it is being sanitized. Do it for 10 minutes and rinse the brush with warm water right after.

Good toothbrush care is a must to protect your teeth and gums from any disease that may occur. Smart and wise approaches like these must be necessarily implemented to maintain good oral hygiene. Always keep in mind that a healthy smile requires a healthy toothbrush.