We all know that brushing your teeth is essential, but did you know that how you store your toothbrush can affect your oral health?
Your oral health depends on minimizing harmful bacteria that cause infections & cavities. Brushing your teeth helps clear away food particles that feed the bacteria in your mouth, but if your toothbrush isn’t clean, you can introduce even more bacteria into your mouth!
Here are some ways you can make sure your toothbrush (& your mouth) stays clean.
Don’t Cover Your Toothbrush
You might think that using a toothbrush cover or keeping your toothbrush in a cabinet or drawer will protect it from bacteria & other germs in your bathroom, but this actually doesn’t allow your toothbrush to fully dry. When your toothbrush can’t completely dry, it creates an environment that is far better suited for bacteria to grow.
It’s best to store your toothbrush upright & in a way that allows it to air dry. If you share a bathroom or have multiple toothbrushes, make sure that the heads don’t touch one another—that can allow bacteria & germs to transfer between the toothbrushes.
Close the Toilet Lid Before Flushing
Since you should be storing your toothbrush out in the open, it’s important to minimize contaminants in the air. The easiest way to do this is to flush the toilet with the lid closed. When you flush with the lid open, bacteria & other particles are sent into the air—they can travel up to six feet, & you definitely don’t want anything from the toilet getting on anything in your bathroom, especially your toothbrush!
If you share a bathroom & aren’t able to get everyone to put the toilet lid down, try storing your toothbrush in your bedroom.
Keep Your Toothbrush Away From the Sink
Unfortunately, just closing the toilet lid isn’t enough to protect your toothbrush. If you store your toothbrush too close to the sink, it can be splashed by soap or dirty water, & you don’t want that in your mouth either!
The best solution is to keep your toothbrush in a corner of your bathroom away from the sink & toilet. If you’re strapped for space, you can get a wall-mounted toothbrush holder to place high enough to avoid any splashing from the sink.
Clean Your Container Often
Whether you use a cup, a wall-mounted holder or something else to store your toothbrush, you’ll need to clean it regularly to avoid a buildup of dust, germs & bacteria. You can wipe your toothbrush holder with an antibacterial wipe, wash it in the sink with warm soapy water or put it in the dishwasher if it’s dishwasher-safe.
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