Your toothbrush might be the nastiest thing you have to deal with every day. Imagine!!!
According to scientists at England University of Manchester, there are more than one hundred million bacteria living in your uncovered toothbrush, including staphylococci which causes skin rashes and E. coli which causes diarrhea.
No need to panic, as your mouth is not free of micro-organisms after all. In fact there is hundreds of bacterial flora which lives normally in our oral cavity without causing any oral diseases. The problems start when the balance between bacterial floras is disturbed.
Actually, you are the source of bacteria on your toothbrush, as every time you use your toothbrush to remove plaque (full of bacteria) from your teeth, you are automatically reloading your toothbrush with more and more bacteria.
Now, the most important question: can your toothbrush cause your sickness?
NO. There is no clinical evidence that your toothbrush will cause you illness despite the huge number of bacteria living in it, thanks to your natural body immune system.
However, here are some nice tips to store your toothbrush:
1. Don’t store your toothbrush near your toilet “Don’t brush where you flush”.
Nowadays, most bathrooms are very narrow; actually, there is no much between your bathroom sink (where you normally keep your toothbrush open) and your toilet. Unfortunately, it is a proved fact that each toilet scatters bacteria in the surrounding media each time you flush. So believe me you don’t want to put your toothbrush anywhere near your toilet.
2. Rinse your toothbrush thoroughly with clean tap water each time you finish using it.
3. Always store your toothbrush dry as bacteria love moisture, make sure your toothbrush cover is dry as well.
4. Store your toothbrush in an upright position instead of lying it down.
5. Make sure nobody else uses your toothbrush. Usually, toothbrush bristles (however soft they are) cause minute wounds to the gingiva, leaving minor traces of blood behind. It is really better to avoid storing your toothbrush in the same cup of other people toothbrushes’.
6. Toss your toothbrush regularly. The American Dental Association advises you to change your toothbrush every 3-4 months; this is the best way to eliminate bacteria.
But what about toothbrush sanitizers, do they really work?
Till now, there is no evidence that using these products can prevent bacterial growth on your toothbrush 100%. However, some of them can effectively kill pathogens. If you are really interested in using a toothbrush sanitizer, make sure it is proved by FDA.
Source
100 Million Bacteria Can Live in Uncovered Toothbrush
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can you microwave a tooth brush to sanitize it?
I have always kept my toothbrush in a glass full of Listerine. I replace the Listerine and clean the glass about once a week. Is it better than just out on the sink? I was told it was – now I’m curious.
If you were storing your toothbrush in an open glass of water, if might behave as Rouma Lotfy says.
But since Listerine is at least 21% Ethanol, which kills bacteria at less than 1/2 that strength, I think your procedure is probably just fine.
I would still rinse the toothbrush thoroughly with tap water before storing it. And if the toilet is in close proximity, it wouldn’t hurt to cover the toothbrush/Listerine with a slightly larger plastic glass or container that would hang down well past the top of the Listerine glass.
Of course, all this is just my opinion, and I’m not a medical professional (nor do I play one on TV
Hi, Ilya
Of course, your microwave can kill germs growing on your toothbrush, but be sure to follow these tips:
1. Make sure that all metal parts of your toothbrush are merged in water while using microwave.
2. Put the bristles of your toothbrush facing down of microwave safe cup; be sure to fill the cup with water until bristles are completely submerged.
3. Allow the water submerging toothbrush bristles to boil for 1-2 minutes.
4. Remove the cup from microwave and allow water to cool in room temperature (before removing toothbrush from it).
I think Listerine is this case will be acting as a media for bacterial infection and growth. You are automically contaminating your toothbrush with more and more bacteria each time you sink it in Listerine cup. Actually, you can rinse your toothbrush with Listerine once after you use it and leave it dry. That is better.
Really informative article. Can anybody tell microwave idea is worth while.
Do it destroys bacteria living in brush.
I have a sanitizer on my Sonicare, but rarely use it.
The mouth is a contaminated environment to start with. Brush to mouth infections is a non-issue compared to the impact of ineffective and infrequent brushing.
I have a device which is portable enough to fit into a handbag, uses no batteries and excludes all possible contamination from the outside whilst storing the brushhead immersed in mouthwash thus preventing multiplication of bacteria and forming of mould. Uniquely the device has a brush head cleaning action which engages automatically everytime the brush is returned to the unit after use and the cap screwed back in place. The cleaning action can be seen to work which encourage regular cleaning. the cleaning cycle loosens food debris etc.
For those who want a clean mouth between regular brushes say for a dental visit or important meeting brush with just the mouthwash it’s what we do! product is:- Cylerdent
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