Your mouth houses millions of germs, including the ones living in the plaque on your teeth, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that these germs collect on your toothbrush. The purpose of your toothbrush is to remove bacteria from your mouth, so it’s crucial to keep your toothbrush sanitary and free of bacteria.

In this blog, we’ll provide some tips on how to clean and take care of your toothbrush to maintain a healthy smile.

How To Clean Your Toothbrush

Cleaning a toothbrush is simple, you don’t need fancy bathroom accessories or toiletries. Rinse the bristles and handle of the toothbrush before and after every use. Hold the brush under running hot water to soften the bristles, which in turn release food particles and excess toothpaste. Then, rub your thumb over the bristles and allow cold water to wash away any remaining debris and toothpaste. The cold water causes the bristles to regain firmness and limit the reproduction of germs.

How To Disinfect Your Toothbrush

Washing your toothbrush with water may not be enough when you want to kill germs. To disinfect your toothbrush, allow it to soak in an antibacterial mouthwash. Stir the toothbrush with the bristled end for 30 seconds. Mouthwash containing alcohol will kill off most of the bacteria.

Alternatively, you can mix two teaspoons of baking soda in one cup of water and soak your toothbrush in the solution if you don’t have mouthwash.

How To Keep Your Toothbrush Clean

Here’s some advice for keeping a clean and effective toothbrush.

• Wash your hands with soap before and after touching your toothbrush.
• Avoid side-by-side storage of toothbrushes. Toothbrushes should be kept apart.
• Avoid sharing your toothbrush with anyone.
• Keeping your toothbrush away from your toilet cuts down on the airborne bacteria from waste. Always flush the toilet with the top lid closed.
• Replace your toothbrush at the first signs of worn bristles. We recommend replacing your toothbrush every three months.
• Air dry your toothbrush by shaking the excess water from the bristles. Running your thumb or finger across the bristles will also help to remove the water.
• Throw out the toothbrush of anyone in your home, including yourself, that gets a contagious sickness such as a cold or flu. Any other toothbrushes that may have come into contact with the contaminated toothbrush should also be tossed.

We also carry Curaprox toothbrushes at our Garden City location. These toothbrushes are made of polyester filaments rather than traditional nylon. These polyester filaments do not hold water or bacteria which keeps them cleaner for longer. Our Curaprox Interdental brushes are used in place of dental floss to clean between the teeth. They are also made of polyester filaments so can last six to 12 months if rinsed and left to air dry following use.

If at any point you have any questions about toothbrushes, you visit Dental Image Therapy Centres to get all your dental queries answered. You can find our Winnipeg locations at Garden City Shopping Centre and St. Vital Centre.