The Awful and Shocking Truth about This One Bathroom Item

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Have you thought about your toothbrush lately? Probably not, and that’s normal, few people do. Most people never think about their toothbrush until the bristles are virtually falling out or they drop it in the toilet accidently.

Well, friends, it’s time to take a good hard look at the toothbrush because it’s probably a whole lot nastier than you ever imagined.

1. Literally a Germ Magnet

Researchers have recently found that an uncovered toothbrush is a like a closet for bacteria. It’s wet most of the time, and there are plenty of places to hide. Tested toothbrushes have as many as 100 million bacteria cells. What is really disgusting is that researchers from the Manchester University of England found that some of these bacteria are staphylococci (a nasty bug that gives terrible skin infections) and E. coli – yes that wonderful germ that comes from poop and gives you what most people label as “stomach flu.” Flu viruses also live on toothbrushes, along with yeast and strep, that lovely germ that gives you strep throat and even causes cavities! Find out home remedies for tooth decay and cavities.

2. The Toothbrush Holder

If you have a small bathroom, many people are forced to put the toothbrush holder pretty close to the toilet, sometimes directly on top of it. And when was the last time you cleaned your toothbrush holder? Most people don’t. We pick up and clean under it but don’t usually think about cleaning the holder itself. So while you are thinking about it, why not pop that little holder in the dishwasher right now?

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3. Your Toothbrush and Sickness

Although researchers at Manchester University didn’t think that brushing your teeth actually damages your health, even if it has some bacteria on it, they do recommend that people think more about where their toothbrush is stored. Toilets can spray about 5 to 20 feet and that makes it easy for those microscopic bits of bacteria to land on your toothbrush and that will make you sick. So always close the toilet lid before you flush, and if your bathroom is very small, store your toothbrush inside a medicine chest or a drawer so it’s safe from the spray. If you have several toothbrushes in a holder, be sure to position them so that the brushes don’t touch each other, as germs from one brush can easily travel to the other brush.

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4. Bacteria and Plaque

Although no one is really surprised that toothbrushes carry some bacteria, no amount of rinsing is going to get rid of everything. When we don’t change our toothbrush very often, it’s like reinfecting your mouth with old bacteria. Too much bacteria in the mouth can lead to plaque formation, which can lead to gum disease.

5. How to Reduce Germs

OK, so now that we know how bacteria get on our toothbrushes, what else can we do besides closing the toilet lid? Well, for one thing, don’t use those toothbrush covers. Although they sound like a good idea, they keep your toothbrush wet, and bacteria love a wet, mushy place. Store it in an upright position and let it dry between uses. If you like to brush 3 times a day, you might want to have 2 toothbrushes: one for morning and nighttime use, and one for the middle of the day.

There are also several toothbrush sanitizers on the market, and even though some have been tested and found to be pretty good at removing bacteria, there is no evidence that these do any better at keeping you from getting sick than simply storing your toothbrush in a safe location and letting it dry. If you really feel the need to sanitize your toothbrush, let it sit in a glass of mouthwash overnight. Or you can even run it through the dishwasher!

Replace your toothbrush after you have been sick. Also, if the bristles begin to look worn out, they are already past the point where they are doing a good job at cleaning your teeth. You can also simply set a schedule and replace your toothbrush every 3 or 4 months, no matter what it looks like. Many stores sell 4, 6, or even 8 packs of toothbrushes so you can buy one or twice a year and forget about it.

By the way, never, ever share toothbrushes. You can share bacteria that cause tooth decay, because after all, tooth decay is actually an infectious disease, so don’t ever borrow someone else’s toothbrush. Better to use your finger and some floss for one night rather than share a toothbrush.

Sources:

Sharon Cooper, PhD, RDH, MS, MEd, clinical associate professor, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL.

American Dental Association.

The Maryland Children’s Oral Health Institute.

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