According to researchers at England’s University of Manchester over 100 million bacteria at any time are living on your toothbrush. E Coli which cause diarrhea or Staphylococci or Staph the culprit in skin infections to name just a few hidden in the bristles of your toothbrush. Let our Vancouver pediatric dentists discuss the ugly hidden truth in your toothbrush.
Mouthful of Bacteria
This is not a reason to panic and throw out your toothbrush, in reality our mouths are not very sterile to begin with and have you questioning if we should be concerned about a few million more. The key is keeping a healthy balance of bacteria, the plaque you’re removing from your teeth is actually caused by bacteria. So each time you brush your teeth you’re putting even more bacteria back on your toothbrush which really doesn’t sound very healthy.Could Your Toothbrush Be Making You Sick
Now that you’re aware of the millions of unseen bacteria hidden in your toothbrush you might wonder if they could be the cause of your latest flu or cold. The answer is probably not as the body’s natural defences spring into action making it highly unlikely you’re going to become infected from using your toothbrush. Still it’s advisable to think about where and how you store your toothbrush.Don’t Brush Where You Flush
The bathroom tends to be fairly small so storing your toothbrush in another room is not very practical so keep it as far away from the toilet as possible. Every flush sends bacteria into the air and in such a small room some bacteria will end up on your toothbrush so a common sense approach is needed.Toothbrush Storage Tips
- Keep it rinsed - wash it thoroughly under running water with each use
- Keep it dry - bacteria thrive in a moist environment so allow toothbrushes to dry between each use, avoid covering by not allowing the brush to dry which will just encourage bacteria growth
- Keep it upright - store your brush upright in a toothbrush holder rather than laying it down
- Keep it to yourself - never share your toothbrush with anyone in your household and keep toothbrushes separate to prevent germs from being transferred between toothbrushes
We hope these tips have helped you learn more about your toothbrush.
