Do you know how to take proper care of your toothbrush?
We talk a lot about oral hygiene on our blog, but one of the most important components of your daily dental hygiene routine is your toothbrush. The main objective of your toothbrush is to keep bacteria out of your mouth; however, depending on how often you change your toothbrush and where you store it, it could actually cause this tool to introduce more bacteria to your mouth.
Specializing in dentistry in Vancouver, WA, our team at Cascade Dental would like to share the following tips with you covering how to properly care for a toothbrush:
Do not keep your toothbrush covered when storing it at home.
It’s not uncommon to see toothbrush storage kits in the grocery store, and to many of us, that seems like a natural way to keep your toothbrush protected from germs and bacteria, right? Wrong.
The chronically moist environment that a toothbrush case provides can actually promote more bacteria growth. Instead, opt for a toothbrush holder that keeps the bristles of your brush exposed.
A toothbrush case is appropriate, however, when you are traveling as you don’t want the bristles of your brush to come in contact other items in your suitcase as it can pick up dust, dirt, and bacteria. Of course, when you arrive at your destination, be sure to store your brush in the open air.
Do not store your toothbrush near the toilet.
Every time you flush the toilet, invisible bacteria particles are introduced to the air. As you can imagine, this is definitely not something that you want to expose your toothbrush to. Be sure to store your toothbrush in a safe area that is several feet away from the toilet.
For more tips detailing how to properly care for your teeth and toothbrush, be sure to contact us at Padden Dental, a specialist in dentistry in Vancouver, WA.