Women health


 Can you get sick from a dirty toothbrush?

WHAT COULD BE HIDING IN YOUR TOOTHBRUSH, DO YOU KNOW?

According to scientists at the University of Manchester in England, your toothbrush is contaminated with bacteria. They discovered that one exposed toothbrush can contain more than 100 million bacteria, including staphylococci ("Staph") bacteria that can cause skin infections, and E. coli bacteria, which can cause diarrhea.

Not to worry, though. Not exactly a clean tongue to begin with, you said.

Bacteria in the mouth

The Dental Hygiene Research Center's associate professor & director Gayle McCombs, RDH, MS, notes that there are hundreds of germs in our mouths every day.

That's not a huge deal. Only when there is an unfavorable balance of germs in the mouth do issues begin to arise. McCombs claims.

Are You Being Affected by Your Toothbrush?

Doubtless not. It is extremely rare that you will contract an illness only from brushing your teeth, regardless of how many bacteria exist in your mouth or have entered it via your toothbrush due to your body's natural defenses.

It's crucial to keep in mind that the plaque you're taking from your teeth is actually bacteria, advises dentist Kimberly Harms, DDS, consumer advisor for the American Dental Association. So

each time you wash your teeth, you're getting bacteria on your toothbrush.

Sadly, Harms notes, the human body can typically protect itself from microorganisms. So, we are not aware of any concrete evidence that leaving your toothbrush in the toothbrush holder in your bathroom is actually doing you any real harm or damage. We are unsure whether the germs there are causing infections.

Nonetheless, you should use common sense when storing your toothbrush, especially how far away it is from the bathroom.

Avoid brushing after using the restroom.

The majority of bathrooms are compact. Also, the bathroom sink where you keep your toothbrush is typically not too far from the toilet.

Every time you flush the toilet, microorganisms are released into the air. Also, you don't want the open end of your toothbrush to come in contact with the toilet spray.

Why would you want to put your toothbrush where you store your dishes and glasses—which are not kept near the toilet—is a question? states McCombs. Keep your toothbrush as far away from the toilet as you can, according to common sense.

One would also wash your hands before eating if one had just used the restroom. Prior to brushing your teeth, McCombs advises following the same instructions.

Tips for Storing Toothbrushes

Here are some more storage suggestions to keep your toothbrush as sanitized as possible once you've moved it away from the toilet

Keep rinsing. Each time you use your toothbrush, give it a thorough rinse with tap water.

Leave it dry. Harms claims that bacteria prefer a damp environment. Ensure that your brush has ample time to completely dry in between uses. Avoid using toothbrush covers, which can provide bacteria with an enclosed, damp environment in which to grow.

Set it upright. Instead of laying it flat, keep your toothbrush upright in a holder.

Keep it private. Never use your sister's or brother's toothbrush, spouse's toothbrush, or roommate's toothbrush, no matter how close you are to them. Even storing your toothbrush side by side in the same cup as other people's brushes is inappropriate. When toothbrushes come in contact, germs can be transferred.

How Effective Are Toothbrush Sanitizers?

Some items guarantee cleaning your toothbrush. According to some, bacteria can be killed by heat, ultraviolet light, germ-killing sprays, or rinses. Some have bristles that are built-in antimicrobial.

There is evidence to suggest that at least some of these products do destroy bacteria. Nevertheless, there is no concrete evidence to support the claim that using a toothbrush sanitizer will lower your risk of contracting an illness.

Make sure the FDA has reviewed the product before using it if you decide to utilize one of these, as the FDA verifies the veracity of marketing claims made for consumer health goods.

Keep in mind that even the greatest products won't completely eliminate all the bacteria on your toothbrush. They will, at most, eradicate 99.9% of the pathogens.

When to Throw Away A Toothbrush

The greatest strategy to reduce the number of bacteria on your toothbrush is to change it frequently.

Every three to four months, according to the American Dental Association, you should replace your toothbrush. If the bristles grow ragged, you’re unwell, or you're suffering from a weak immune system, throw it out even more often. When using an electric toothbrush, discard the head as frequently as you would a single-use toothbrush.

According to Harms, this means that if your toothbrush had a million bacteria when you first used it, it would have about 1,000 left after sanitizing.

Other sites suggest sterilizing your toothbrush in the dishwasher or microwave. Although some of the bacteria will be killed by these techniques, your toothbrush will probably get damaged in the process. It is preferable to simply purchase disposable brushes and discard them.

Each time you feel they want to avoid cleaning and flossing your teeth, just think of all the bacteria that are present in your mouth and what they are capable of.

According to Harms, germs are the root cause of gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath. "Be careful to wash and floss your teeth as frequently as you can to get rid of some of the bacteria." Before brushing, rinse your mouth out with an antibacterial mouthwash to further assist prevent the growth of bacteria.

 

 

 

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