How clean are toothbrushes?

Answer 1

Your toothbrush is likely your most-used grooming tool but is often neglected during regular cleaning chores-which cleaning category does a toothbrush fall under? Does it make more sense to clean your toothbrush when you clean the bathroom it's stored in or when you do dishes? Do you clean your toothbrush at the same time you clean its container? More often? Less often? And how do you remember to change your toothbrush? Should you coordinate changing your toothbrush with the seasons, new mascara, or school quarters? Toothbrush germs are not something I care to think about on a regular basis, but after reading some of these articles, a new toothbrush got the top spot on my grocery list! Fair warning: you may never look at your toothbrush the same way again. What lurks on your toothbrush? * Put down that bagel before reading about the Fecal Fountain Factor at Think Before You Flush or Brush. Bottom line for the squeamish: close the toilet lid before flushing, regardless of where you store your toothbrush. * Find the recap of the Mythbusters toothbrush germ experiment at Televizzle.org. Can you remember the last time you changed your toothbrush? * From Dentistry.com: "The typical toothbrush is reused for months, never cleaned thoroughly, and usually is stored under warm, moist conditions conducive for bacterial growth," says Astrid Schroetter, D.D.S., a general dentist. "This little piece of plastic, which is the very basis of home dental care, repeatedly is plunged into one of the dirtiest parts of the body. More than 300 kinds of microorganisms thrive in the human mouth." "A toothbrush is less expensive than a Big Mac®, but some of us are so cheap that we just can't find the money to buy a new brush," says Tom Glass, D.D.S. "After a while, toothbrush bristles wear down and become breeding grounds for bacteria," he says. "We've conducted numerous studies that show people can become re-infected with all kinds of bacteria from their own toothbrushes. By replacing their toothbrushes more often, we can prevent a lot of illnesses." * The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush every three months and/or after illness. And consider washing a new toothbrush before use. From the ADA: Toothbrushes may even have bacteria on them right out of the box since they are not required to be sold in a sterile package. So, how do you sanitize a toothbrush?Low Tech: * Store it in mouthwash * Rinse it with peroxide * Rinse it with tap water High Tech: * Philips Sonicare FlexCare Toothbrush with UV Sanitizer, $149 at Drugstore.com. * Vio Light Toothbrush Sanitizer and Storage System, $49.95 at Amazon.com. * Germ Terminator on QVC. What about using the microwave to nuke germs? Researchers at the University of Oklahoma placed toothbrushes in a microwave and found they could wipe out common bugs. However, they also discovered that metal staples that hold the bristles in the manual toothbrush head can interfere with the energy waves and kill the microwave. The Chicago Dental Society cautions that microwave sterilization shows promise but is still in the early phases of research. Tips for keeping your toothbrush clean Strangest advice I found on keeping your toothbrush clean: store it in the bedroom. Wouldn't that make a lovely decor statement? These tips are a bit more practical: * Don't store the family's toothbrushes in one container. * Wash your hands before and after brushing your teeth. * Store toothbrush upright in a place where it will dry out between uses Your toothbrush is likely your most-used grooming tool but is often neglected during regular cleaning chores-which cleaning category does a toothbrush fall under? Does it make more sense to clean your toothbrush when you clean the bathroom it's stored in or when you do dishes? Do you clean your toothbrush at the same time you clean its container? More often? Less often? And how do you remember to change your toothbrush? Should you coordinate changing your toothbrush with the seasons, new mascara, or school quarters? Toothbrush germs are not something I care to think about on a regular basis, but after reading some of these articles, a new toothbrush got the top spot on my grocery list! Fair warning: you may never look at your toothbrush the same way again. What lurks on your toothbrush? * Put down that bagel before reading about the Fecal Fountain Factor at Think Before You Flush or Brush. Bottom line for the squeamish: close the toilet lid before flushing, regardless of where you store your toothbrush. * Find the recap of the Mythbusters toothbrush germ experiment at Televizzle.org. Can you remember the last time you changed your toothbrush? * From Dentistry.com: "The typical toothbrush is reused for months, never cleaned thoroughly, and usually is stored under warm, moist conditions conducive for bacterial growth," says Astrid Schroetter, D.D.S., a general dentist. "This little piece of plastic, which is the very basis of home dental care, repeatedly is plunged into one of the dirtiest parts of the body. More than 300 kinds of microorganisms thrive in the human mouth." "A toothbrush is less expensive than a Big Mac®, but some of us are so cheap that we just can't find the money to buy a new brush," says Tom Glass, D.D.S. "After a while, toothbrush bristles wear down and become breeding grounds for bacteria," he says. "We've conducted numerous studies that show people can become re-infected with all kinds of bacteria from their own toothbrushes. By replacing their toothbrushes more often, we can prevent a lot of illnesses." * The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush every three months and/or after illness. And consider washing a new toothbrush before use. From the ADA: Toothbrushes may even have bacteria on them right out of the box since they are not required to be sold in a sterile package. So, how do you sanitize a toothbrush?Low Tech: * Store it in mouthwash * Rinse it with peroxide * Rinse it with tap water High Tech: * Philips Sonicare FlexCare Toothbrush with UV Sanitizer, $149 at Drugstore.com. * Vio Light Toothbrush Sanitizer and Storage System, $49.95 at Amazon.com. * Germ Terminator on QVC. What about using the microwave to nuke germs? Researchers at the University of Oklahoma placed toothbrushes in a microwave and found they could wipe out common bugs. However, they also discovered that metal staples that hold the bristles in the manual toothbrush head can interfere with the energy waves and kill the microwave. The Chicago Dental Society cautions that microwave sterilization shows promise but is still in the early phases of research. Tips for keeping your toothbrush clean Strangest advice I found on keeping your toothbrush clean: store it in the bedroom. Wouldn't that make a lovely decor statement? These tips are a bit more practical: * Don't store the family's toothbrushes in one container. * Wash your hands before and after brushing your teeth. * Store toothbrush upright in a place where it will dry out between uses