Toothbrushes have a life of about 3 months (or at least, that is how often they should be replaced). Bearing in mind that we brush our teeth at least 3 times a day, that means we will use each brush around 300 times before replacing it.
Oral hygiene is not just about brushing our teeth. Keeping our toothbrush clean is also a fundamental part of it. So here are some tips for keeping our toothbrushes in the best possible condition:
- Wash your hands before brushing your teeth. Our hands carry a large number of bacteria and if we use our toothbrush without washing them, we will be transferring them to the brush and therefore to our mouth.
- Clean your brush: after each brushing we should rinse it with warm water to remove any food debris and toothpaste it may have. Do not forget to shake it before putting it away to remove as much water as possible… bacteria love damp places!
- Store it properly: after rinsing, we should store it upright with the bristles facing up so that it dries before the next use.
- Watch out for other brushes! Just as we would all find it unhygienic to share a toothbrush with someone else, letting our brushes touch someone else’s means sharing bacteria and bodily fluids.
- Regularly wash the container in which you keep your toothbrushes.
- If you travel, cover your brush. You would not want it coming into contact with everything else you are carrying, would you?
Remember that whatever you expose your brush to will later end up in your mouth. Look after your toothbrushes and you will be looking after your smile.
