You clean your teeth twice everyday using your toothbrush, but rarely ever do you clean your toothbrush. Cleaning your toothbrush is one of the most important steps of oral hygiene to protect yourself from the proliferation of bacteria. When you use your toothbrush to clean off the bacteria and food particles inside your mouth, some of it gets collected in the bristles.
You certainly do not want bristles full of bacteria and germs inside your mouth. The National Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush at least once in two months for this very reason. Besides that, it can also suggest cleaning your toothbrush once a week. If your self-confidence has been hampered by your dental issues, explore your options by meeting with a family cosmetic dentistry.
Measures to keep your toothbrush clean for good oral health
- Wash and dry correctly.
Keeping your toothbrush clean is not difficult, and the basic measures of maintenance are often enough. After you have brushed your teeth, make sure to run your toothbrush bristles under hot tap water. Agitate the toothbrush bristles with your fingers to remove any small food particles or toothpaste stuck between the inside, and then rinse with cold water again.
After cleaning, make sure you store your toothbrush in a closed case instead of keeping it in the open with other toothbrushes. However, let your toothbrush air-dry first before putting it in the case.
- Use multiple brushes.
It is recommended not to use the same toothbrush for a long time and replace them at least once every two months. Besides that, it is also important to keep multiple toothbrushes for use at once because you have to let your brushes air-dry between every use. If you use your toothbrush in the morning, it may not be completely dry by the nighttime. Therefore, keeping at least two is recommended.
- Do not share your toothbrush.
While you may think sharing a toothbrush for one time in an emergency is okay, it is not. Sharing might be a good habit in other situations but not in oral hygiene. It will not benefit you and your loved one either, as it transfers the bacteria and germs from your mouth to theirs. Every family member must have a separate toothbrush, even if there are 3-year-old kids.
These are a few oral hygiene measures to keep your toothbrush clean. This is one of the easiest ways to protect your teeth and gums from oral issues, as keeping your toothbrush clean does not take much time.