Would you want your teeth to get covered with filthy bacteria despite regular brushing? You would never want that for yourself or your loved one. Right?
Yet, too often, people leave their toothbrush lying around, where it can be contaminated by everything that goes on in the bathroom. That could be mingling with other toothbrushes, in a damp toilet bag, or even worse, near the toilet. People rarely think about what kind of dirt and debris accumulates in their toothbrush – but they should!
Don’t worry if you’re feeling a little disgusted. Learning how to store a toothbrush can prevent any contamination. Below, we’re covering the correct way to store a toothbrush – be it manual or electric, common mistakes after using a toothbrush, and how to disinfect your toothbrush. Let’s get started!
5 Toothbrush Storage Mistakes That You Make
1. Keeping It In Close Contact With Other Toothbrushes
Most of you would be alien to the fact that toothbrushes should not be placed close to each other. When two toothbrush heads are placed close to each other, an exchange of bacteria occurs. This contributes to the birth of new species of bacteria that grow rapidly.
The prevalence of oral diseases increases when such toothbrushes contact the oral environment.
2. Keeping It Near The Toilet
Your typical morning routine would be to sit on the toilet seat, do your thing, push the flush button and walk towards the sink to brush your teeth. In doing so, does anything cross your mind?
The act of flushing creates a cloud of airborne particles, referred to as a toilet plume. These particles settle on surfaces throughout the bathroom, including your toothbrush. This fact is also highlighted by the Journal of Advanced Medical and Dental Sciences. Would you want these gross particles to reach your mouth? Certainly not! So, keep reading as we’ll guide you on how to prevent this in a minute.
3. Laying It Flat
This is one of the most common mistakes people often make. Instead of placing the toothbrush in a toothbrush holder or a flat mug, it’s placed flat on the sink or shelf. A flat toothbrush won’t dry completely, allowing rapid growth of bacteria on its bristles.
Next time, you’ll brush your teeth with the same toothbrush, and the cycle of bacterial growth will be repeated- on the bristles and the tooth. This will contribute to oral diseases like gingivitis, etc.
4. Storing It In a Closed Space
Storing a toothbrush in a closed space, such as a cupboard, a drawer, or a cabinet, will promote the growth of bacteria. This is because of its moist environment. Research proves that dilute environments are crucial to the survival and growth of bacteria. Thus, if you’re the one doing this, stop immediately.
5. Storing a Wet Toothbrush
Another common thing to do is not dry your toothbrush after usage. This wet toothbrush is more susceptible to the growth of bacteria. The concept is the same as the one discussed earlier, i.e., a moist environment equals more bacteria.
The Right Way to Store Your Toothbrush
For ease of understanding, we have simplified it into 5 baby steps. By following them, your toothbrush will stay germ-free. This, in turn, will promote a healthy oral environment.
Step 1. Rinse Your Toothbrush
After usage, the first thing to do is to rinse your toothbrush, preferably with hot water. This will wash off all the germs. If you’re a sonic electric toothbrush user, avoid rinsing the button handle.
Remember to give your toothbrush a thorough shake to get rid of the excess water. You might want to run a finger or thumb through the bristles to remove the excess. (Just make sure your hands are clean.)
Step 2. Place It Upright
For this step, try using a mug or a toothbrush holder, as it keeps the toothbrush upright. Placing it upright promotes drying, thereby preventing bacterial growth. Consider the area around your toothbrush – your toothbrush shouldn’t be coming into contact with other people’s brushes. Sharing germs from another person’s mouth isn’t good for your oral hygiene.
Conventional plastic or metal toothbrush holders can be used for both manual and electric toothbrushes. However, a modern electric toothbrush holder can only be used for a smart toothbrush. One such example is the 2-in-1 electric toothbrush holder of Oclean – it holds the toothbrush and charges it simultaneously.
Step 3. Place Toothbrush Holder 5 Feet Away From Toilet
Earlier, we asked you whether or not you would want airborne toilet particles on your toothbrush. To avoid this, placing your toothbrush holder 5 feet away from the toilet is crucial.
But even with this distance, your toothbrush can still become contaminated. Every time you flush the toilet, little droplets of toilet water enter the air. These droplets linger for up to 2 hours before settling onto different surfaces. We recommend flushing the toilet with the lid down to prevent droplet formation and keep your toothbrush as clean as possible.
Step 4. Cover It While Travelling
While travelling, cover your toothbrush with a plastic cap. If you don’t have one, place it in an airtight pouch. Here, two main things should be kept in mind:
· Always dry your toothbrush properly.
· Cover it with a cap or place it in an airtight container or pouch for a short period.
The rationale behind the above two points is to prevent moisture and bacterial growth. Obviously, even with these steps, it’s still sensible to give your toothbrush a thorough clean when you get to your destination. That could be washing it with soap or mouthwash or just giving it a thorough clean under hot water.
Step 5. Replace Every 3 Months
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends toothbrush replacement every 3-4 months. However, the new ADA guidelines recommend replacement as soon as the bristles are frayed.
Moreover, if you have a recent illness, get rid of your toothbrush. Viruses and bacteria can linger on the toothbrush long after your infection is over, increasing the risk of reinfection. You might also want to replace your toothbrush if someone you live with has been ill.
If you don’t replace your toothbrush frequently, it increases dental and health problems. Cavities and gum disease can occur as the frayed toothbrush doesn’t thoroughly remove the buildup of plaque.
Keep Your Toothbrush Hygiene Game On Top
Don’t just worry about how to store a toothbrush. Going one step further is what matters the most. If you can decontaminate your toothbrush daily, this would be the cherry on top. This can be done in either of the following ways:
UV Sanitiser
Putting your toothbrush under UV light for an hour or more is the most effective way to disinfect it. In fact, it’s more effective than saline or antiseptic solutions. That being said, most people don’t have access to a UV lamp or any other kind of UV sanitiser.
Disinfecting Solutions
The most common way to disinfect your toothbrush is to use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. It’s relatively simple to make:
1. Mix 1 teaspoon of peroxide with 1 cup of water.
2. Swish the toothbrush bristles in the solution or soak them for 15 minutes.
3. Rinse the toothbrush thoroughly with water before use.
4. If soaking the toothbrush, change the peroxide solution daily.
Of course, most people don’t have hydrogen peroxide lying around. The second-best option is an antibacterial mouthwash. Pour a small amount into a clean cup – enough to submerge the toothbrush head. Leave it in the solution for 30 seconds or more. This is the preferred option as it’s easy to acquire antibacterial mouthwash.
The last option is a baking soda solution. Mix 2 teaspoons of baking soda into a cup of water and leave the toothbrush in the solution for an hour. It will thoroughly disinfect the brush. Then, give it a rinse to remove any of the baking soda.
Put It In the Dishwasher
Slightly more unusual, some people put their toothbrush in the dishwasher. Just as it cleans your dishes, it will effectively disinfect your brush. However, the intense jets of water can reduce the lifespan of your brush. Worse, food debris might get stuck in the bristles.
Bottom Line
Nobody likes to think they’re putting a dirty toothbrush in their mouth. But how sure are you that your bathroom environment doesn’t contaminate your brush?
If you’re wondering how to store a toothbrush, it’s simple:
· Rinse your toothbrush after using it and place it upright to dry.
· Keep the toothbrush at least 5 feet away from the toilet.
· Use a protective cap or airtight pouch for the brush when travelling.
· Decontaminate your toothbrush with antibacterial mouthwash or a hydrogen peroxide solution.
In addition to these solid tips, replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months – or sooner if it appears frayed.