Mouths are the gateway into the body. And they are a filthy gateway at that. At any moment, there are between 100 and 200 species of bacteria living in the oral cavity. Ann Wei, DDS, a San Franciscan prosthodontist says “In an unbrushed mouth, there can be as many germs as a dirty bathroom floor.” Gross! What’s even grosser? Most of us use the same toothbrush to clean such an area twice a day for months at a time. The average toothbrush can contain 10 million bacteria or more—including E. coli and Staph. By practicing good toothbrush cleanliness, we can reduce both the amount of bad bacteria in our mouths and opportunities for decay.
Toothbrushes are dirty. Here are 6 ways to keep them cleaner:
Flush with the lid closed. That rumor you heard about toilet particles getting on your toothbrush when you flush is true. Dr. Charles Gerba, a Microbiology & Environmental Sciences Professor at University of Arizona College of Public Health, says that bacteria and viruses released from toilet spray “remain airborne long enough to settle on surfaces throughout the bathroom.” Closing the lid is a safe move.
Deep clean it. Sometimes, rinsing your toothbrush with water is not enough. This is especially true if you have an autoimmune disease, or if you drop your toothbrush on the bathroom floor, where it will pick up dirt that has tracked into the bathroom and particles from potential toilet water spray (yikes). There are a few ways to deep clean your toothbrush. We here at Floss Bar recommend soaking the toothbrush bristles in antibacterial mouthwash. It’s a smart idea to do this once every two weeks if you share a toothbrush holder with family members where bacteria can travel from brush to brush. You can also run your toothbrush through the dishwasher or disinfect with ultraviolet light toothbrush sanitizer if you want to get fancy.
Store it properly. Air is to toothbrushes as brushing twice a day is to your mouth. Do you store your toothbrush in the medicine cabinet? You shouldn’t. Toothbrushes need to be stored so they can air out. Lack of air can cause bacteria to grow. If you are traveling and use a plastic toothbrush case, make sure the case has holes that allow air flow.
Replace it. You should swap your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months. This includes every kind of toothbrush – from manual ones to automatic brush attachments. If you get sick, you should replace your toothbrush sooner, as viruses and bacteria from your illness can stay on your toothbrush for weeks at a time and may make you sick again.
Don’t share it. We hopefully all know by now why we shouldn’t share toothbrushes. In addition to the toothbrush, you may want to stay away from sharing your toothpaste tube since it’s capable of transmitting bacteria. If you do share toothpaste, make sure the opening of the tube does not come in contact with any bathroom-mates’ toothbrush bristles, including yours.
Use germ-killing toothpaste. If you want to reach optimal oral cleanliness, your best choice of toothpaste is one that contains triclosan/copolymer, which is known to kill more bacteria than the average fluoride toothpaste.