Proper care of Your Toothbrush
Almost as important as caring for your teeth by brushing them is caring for your toothbrush itself. It is recommended to buy and replace your toothbrush about every three months, more often if the brush part starts deteriorating.
There have been studies recently to show which microorganisms can be transferred from your mouth to your toothbrush and vice versa. Toothbrushes can harbor germs other than the ones from your mouth, they can also hold germs from their surroundings. This is why it is important to keep them in a well-sanitized place.
It is also a good idea to sanitize your toothbrush as soon as you get it out of the package because toothbrush companies are not required to sell toothbrushes in sterile packaging. This means your new toothbrush could have bacteria and microorganisms on it before you even open it.
Human bodies are designed to fight off bacteria and infections, but when compromised the body has a harder time defending itself against these organisms.
Currently, there is not enough data to say for sure that the microbodies and germs that can grow on your toothbrush can affect your health poorly or cause oral infections or diseases. However, studies are still being done on how to eliminate or greatly reduce the bacteria and spread of it.
Even though we can’t be sure if the bacteria growing on our toothbrushes affects us in a negative way, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Ala Dean Attar DMD is an experienced and gentle Libertyville dentist who is accepting new patients.
