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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