Day 2426 - It's time to change your toothbrush

How often do you change your toothbrush?

Getting a new toothbrush is not just about how damaged your bristles get, it's also about the overall "health" of the toothbrush.

Your toothbrush gets wet and is therefore a great place to grow mould and bacteria.  It also goes in your mouth which is a great place to put bacteria, viruses and even parasites into your body.

Ewww!!!

I know right.  So knowing when to change your toothbrush isn't just about ensuring the bristles are still in good condition for getting your teeth and gums clean, but it's also about your overall health and well being.



First and foremost, do you keep your toothbrush in a toothbrush holder?  When was the last time you cleaned that?

Does your toothbrush have one of those handy cases to enclose the head to keep the germs away? When was the last time you cleaned that?

Do you throw your toothbrush into a drawer that has a lovely toothbrush space? When was the last time you cleaned that?

If you're not cleaning the toothbrush's living space, then there's a pretty good chance your toothbrush is carrying some nasty germs.

In a study conducted by the American Society for Microbiology, researchers found that 60% of toothbrushes tested positive for faecal matter.

WHAT!!!!

Plus, if you're sharing your bathroom with room mates or family they say there is an 80% chance that those germs on your toothbrush (bacteria, viruses and parasites) actually came from someone else.

OMG!

So what do we do?

Well, the best way to avoid contamination is to clean your toothbrush and its living space (cup, drawer space, little head protector thingy) every few days.  Experts suggest these items get washed in the dishwasher a couple of times a week to really be sure.

They say we should be replacing our toothbrushes every 3-4 months.

I don't know about you, but after reading this I'm thinking I'll change mine weekly.

How often do you change your toothbrush?

When was the last time you cleaned it's living space?

How much did this post gross you out? 


Information source:  Yours Magazine, Australia, 31 March 2016.