If you’re conscious about your oral health, you most likely use your toothbrush two times a day every day to brush off bacteria and plaque, keeping your mouth nice and fresh. But once your teeth are clean and your breath smells minty, it’s now your toothbrush that carries all that microscopic residue and bacteria.
What’s more, because the bathroom is the only place you can store your toothbrush, the bacteria will have an environment where it can linger for an extended period of time – and you’re going use your toothbrush again before going to bed. This can have an adverse and prolonged effect on your health, which is why you must keep your toothbrush clean and disinfected.
Steps You Can Take to Keep Your Toothbrush Clean and Disinfected
There are a couple of effective methods you can use to ensure your toothbrush is nice and clean between uses.
1. Dowse it in Hot Water Before Brushing Your Teeth and After You’re Done
The easiest and most common way of sanitizing your toothbrush is rinsing it in hot water. However, be careful not to burn your hand. You just need to soak the bristles for a few seconds before your use it. Then after you’re done, rinse it with cold water and then use hot water again.
Hot water is effective for eliminating stubborn bacteria stuck on the bristles after each use. Moreover, it’s also going to get rid of the bacteria and plaque built-up over a longer period of time. But remember, the water should be steaming – lukewarm water isn’t going to cut it. So be careful.
2. Use Antibacterial Mouthwash
This is a more unconventional way of keeping your toothbrush clean, and you may have never heard of this technique before. Swirling your toothbrush in antibacterial mouthwash for 30 seconds after uses is a great way of disinfecting it, as promoted by this Mississauga dental clinic.
But in keep in mind that these mouthwashes contain strong ingredients, which may potentially wear down the bristles quicker – and you may have to replace your toothbrush frequently. But it’s safe to say that it’s a pretty effective way of getting rid of bacteria.
All you have to do is pour some mouthwash in a small cup, enough to soak the bristles and leave it in their for 2-3 minutes. Before using it, just rinse it in cold water once and then apply toothpaste.
3. Ultraviolet Sanitization
You’ll be surprised to know that you can also buy a specifically designed UV sanitizers for your toothbrush.
Sure, it does sound a bit extreme. But as per a study into UV light combined with chlorhexidine gluconate solution (CGS) and saline, it was identified that UV light sanitizers for toothbrushes are perhaps the best way of disinfecting them.
When Should I Get a New Toothbrush?
The best way to not worry too much about it is to replace your toothbrush frequently. As a rule of thumb, it’s recommended to buy a new toothbrush every three to four months. However, there are some instances where you’d have to replace your toothbrush well before this time period. These are:
● Twisted, Missing, or Worn Out Bristles
If you notice that the bristles are twisted, broken, or frayed, throw the toothbrush away as it’s not going help scrub your teeth nearly as effectively.
● Someone’s Accidentally Used Your Toothbrush
If you suspect someone’s accidentally used your toothbrush, the only thing you can do is throw it away and get a new one. Disinfecting it or using a UV sanitizer won’t help because everybody’s oral flora is unique. You’d be better off not brushing your teeth with someone else’s plaque and/or bacteria.
Final Words
While these are some excellent options you have for disinfecting and cleaning your toothbrush, you can always go for rinsing it in hot water as it’s simple and gets the job done. But be sure to do it each time before and after brushing your teeth.