13 Jul How Important Is It to Clean Your Toothbrush?

You know it’s important to brush your teeth if you’re hoping to stay healthy, but did you know that your toothbrush could be harboring a number of germs? Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to keep your mouth and toothbrush healthy and strong.

The first thing you should consider is placing your toothbrush in a dry, open area. Furthermore, please make sure the brush’s bristles aren’t touching anything and that your brush is standing straight up. Doing these things will keep germs and bacteria off your brush, since bacteria tends to grow in moist, damp places.

Similarly, as you’ve probably guessed, you’ll need to rinse your toothbrush after each use. Simply run it under water to remove excess toothpaste, food particles, and other bacteria from your brush’s bristles. Doing so will also help extend the life of your toothbrush.

On a similar note, please remember to keep your toothbrush to yourself. While sharing your brush may seem harmless—and even convenient—it can actually lead to a number of problems. You see, sharing your toothbrush could expose your mouth and body to bacteria, viruses, and even blood borne pathogens.

Finally, even if you do all of these things, you should still replace your brush every four months. Also, please note that if your toothbrush begins to show signs of wear, or if the bristles break off, you should replace it immediately. Unfortunately, if your bristles start to break off, your brush will carry even more bacteria and won’t clean as well.

To learn more about what you can do to keep your toothbrush as it could be—or to learn more about why you should worry about your brush—please feel free to contact Bull City Dental at 919-680-3531. Dr. Palmer, Dr. Kemp, and our team will be happy to answer any questions you have and give you ideas on how to keep your mouth and brush even cleaner. We are excited to hear from you soon.