You are aware that brushing your teeth is part of a good dental hygiene routine. However, this is only spot-on if the toothbrush is hygienic and free of harmful bacteria. There are some quite sickening things that may be found on toothbrushes, and it's important that you know about them, to raise your awareness of them and the ways you can steer clear of them. Read on for more insight.
Blood
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, affects the gum tissues that surround and reinforce your teeth resulting in bleeding. Plaque is the root cause of gum disease. So if your mouth bleeds during brushing, the likelihood is that some blood is passed on to your toothbrush. If you don't rinse it properly, the blood will remain there, waiting for the subsequent teeth brushing.
Escherichia coli (E.coli)
Guess what? If your home features a bathroom with an attached toilet, and you flush your toilet with the lid open, fecal matter spreads on everything within a five to six foot radius. Toilet flushing aerosolizes your fecal matter, depositing bacteria like E.coli right onto your toothbrush. If you brush your teeth with an E. coli-laden toothbrush, you are likely to fall sick. In fact, this bacteria is linked to gastrointestinal disease.
Always ensure to flush the toilet with the lid closed, which will significantly minimize aerosolization and, thus, the bacteria on your toothbrush. Additionally, wash your hands after using the restroom and prior to brushing in order to avoid passing on fecal matter onto your toothbrush. Lastly, replace your toothbrush after every 3 months.
Food debris
You had a delicious meal last night, right? Well, it's possibly still on your brush the following morning, and it has become a source of food for the bacteria as well. Unintentional leftovers on your toothbrush should be avoided at all costs. Simply wash your toothbrush using antibacterial mouth rinse or tap water before you start brushing.
Moisture
The presence of moisture on your toothbrush encourages the rapid growth of bacteria which is not good news. This means that you have to let your toothbrush dry in order to reduce bacterial loads. In this regard, don't cover your brush. Despite the fact that it's appealing due to the fecal matter from the restroom, covering your toothbrush or storing it in a closed cabinet doesn't allow it to dry out. As a result, bacterial loads on those toothbrushes are significantly higher compared to toothbrushes that are kept upright and allowed to dry out.
Above all, always make routine visits to your family dentist. A visit to the dentist at least once every six months allows for timely diagnosis of any dental problems and effective treatment.
