The Care And Keeping Of Your Toothbrush

Posted on: 30 July 2015

Although a toothbrush is a rather simple device, it does the important job of keeping your teeth, gums, and tongue nice and clean. This means that you should take good care of it, which is luckily easy to do. These are a few tips for the proper care and keeping of your toothbrush.

Rinse it Out. Each time that you brush your teeth, you should rinse your toothbrush out thoroughly with clean tap water. This can help wash away any leftover toothpaste and food particles to help prevent bacteria from breeding.

Allow it to Dry. Many people make the mistake of keeping their toothbrushes in cases all the time, but this is the perfect way to encourage bacteria growth on your toothbrush. Basically, bacteria loves to breed in warm, moist places, and by putting your toothbrush in a case without allowing it to air dry, you give them the opportunity to breed. Instead, store your toothbrush upright, and allow it to dry completely before putting it in a case.

Clean Your Case or Toothbrush Holder Regularly. As long as you allow your toothbrush to dry in the open air, it's okay to keep it in a case the rest of the time, especially if you are traveling. However, moisture and bacteria can still accumulate in cases and toothbrush holders if you aren't careful, so you should clean your case or holder regularly to get rid of any bacteria. Allow it to dry completely in the open air before putting your toothbrush back in it.

Keep it Away from Other Toothbrushes. Many families keep all of their toothbrushes in the same toothbrush holder, but this isn't a good idea. This makes it too easy for your toothbrushes to touch one another, which can spread bacteria. You probably wouldn't want to use someone else's toothbrush to clean your mouth, but that's essentially what you are doing if you allow your toothbrush to come in contact with the bristles on your family members' toothbrushes.

Swap it Out. Your toothbrush should be replaced any time that it shows wear and tear, such as if the bristles are starting to flatten or become misshapen. You should also get rid of your toothbrush if you get sick; otherwise, you could get sick again when you use the same toothbrush later on.

Your toothbrush takes good care of your mouth, so it's important for you to take good care of it. Luckily, toothbrush care is very simple, and if you do these things, you can help keep your toothbrush clean and sanitary. When you visit a dentist, like Adwen P Yap DDS - Family Dentistryyou can ask about other care tips.

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