How to Use and Handle Toothbrushes?

wooden toothbrush

Can you imagine starting your day without brushing your teeth? For most people, toothbrushes are the key to starting their day.  That’s how important toothbrushes are and it makes them a staple in bathrooms across the world.

But do you ever think of what might be growing or hanging on those bristles on your toothbrush? Know that irrespective of how well you brush your teeth, if you aren’t using or handling them properly, you will end up having health problems.

Can Your Toothbrush Make You Sick?

According to Gayle McCombs, RDH, MS, associate professor and director of the Dental Hygiene Research Center at Old Dominion University, an unprotected toothbrush is a breeding ground for more than 100 million bacteria, including the E. coli bacteria, the common cause of diarrhea, and staphylococci bacteria that cause severe skin infections.

But don’t worry, toothbrushes cannot make you sick as our body’s natural defense mechanism will ensure that you don’t get an infection from a toothbrush.  That being said, this holds only as long as there isn’t an unhealthy balance of bacteria in your toothbrush.

This is why you must exercise caution while storing your toothbrush. If you are trying to figure out how to use and handle toothbrushes, here is how you can do it.

Storing the toothbrush

Have you ever been taught about properly storing a toothbrush? We bet you haven’t been. Not just you, the majority might be clueless on properly using & handling a toothbrush. Which explains why people tend to do it in the wrong way.

The most common storage for toothbrushes across the globe is either inside the medicine cabinet or in a cup with a lid. While these might seem to be safe places to store your toothbrush, they really aren't. Though storing the brush in a closed container might protect it from getting in touch with common house pests, they can turn into a breeding ground for bacteria.

The best place to store toothbrushes is in an open area with the bristles covered in an area with sunlight & fresh air. The key is to ensure that the toothbrush stays dry between brushing to prevent any microbes from growing in the bristles.

Where to store your toothbrush?

We live in a world surrounded by countless microbes & bacteria and for the most part, it doesn’t make a difference where you store your toothbrush provided you don’t keep it in filthy places. According to Dr. Adalja of the Center for Health Security, you can never keep your toothbrush sterile unless you keep it in some laboratory setup!

That being said, there are some obvious places where you are not supposed to store your toothbrush. For instance, anywhere near the toilet in your bathroom is a classic example of where not to keep your toothbrush.

If you keep your toothbrush anywhere near the toilet it is bound to be exposed to the toilet plumes. If you haven’t heard of toilet plumes before, it is the aerosolized cloud of microscopic particles, including urine and feces that spreads to the air while you flush your toilet. So, storing the toothbrush anywhere near the toilet is a big no!

The best place to keep your brush is in a clean place with ample sunlight & fresh air. According to the American Dental Association, storing a moist toothbrush in a closed container promotes microbial growth rather than leaving it exposed to the open air.

two toothbrush

Key Takeaways

Ø  Store your toothbrush in a dry environment with fresh air & sunlight.

Ø  Do not store your toothbrush near the toilet.

Ø  Store your toothbrush at least 6ft. away from the toilet.

Ø  Do not store your toothbrush in closed containers.

Toothbrush Guards - The most sanitary way to store your toothbrush

The most sanitary way to store your toothbrush is to keep it in an upright position in an open environment. This is recommended to ensure that the bristles are dried quickly after use. Also, ensure that toothbrushes are not placed near another brush and they don’t come in contact with each other.

Toothbrush guards are the safest way to store your toothbrushes. These guards will ensure that the brushes are guarded against cross-contamination, microbes, viruses, mold, chemical contaminants and airborne germs.

Whether you are using an electric toothbrush or a manual one, a toothbrush guard can give you a hygienic environment for you to store your brush.

But before you decide to store your brush in a toothbrush guard, here are 4 things you should know

Ø  Wash your toothbrush in running water before storing it

Ø  Wipe your toothbrush after using before storing

Ø  Keep the toothbrush with the guard in an area with sunlight

Ø  Keep it at least 6ft. from the toilet.

Where do you store your toothbrush in a small bathroom?

If your bathroom isn’t spacious and you can’t keep your toothbrush 6ft from the toilet & sink, buy a toothbrush protector holder. These holders can easily be mounted on the walls giving you adequate protection from toilet plumes.

To Sum Up

We hope that by now you might have understood the importance of using & handling toothbrushes properly & the importance of a toothbrush guard. If you are looking for a cool toothbrush protector, or toothbrush protector holder look no further.

Visit BrushGuard online store and get your hands on protectors for both electric & ordinary brushes that come in different varieties including ocean blue toothbrush protectors along with customized designs.