Do you remember the last time you replaced your toothbrush? Do you have any idea how many bacteria exist in into your toothbrush? One of the easily forgotten simple tasks by an individual is forgetting to replace the toothbrush he/she uses. Brushing your teeth has an important role in your personal oral hygiene and effective plaque removal. The proper care and maintenance of our toothbrush must be considered for a sound oral hygiene.
Researchers at England’s University of Manchester say that our toothbrush is loaded with million germs and bacteria. An uncovered toothbrush can contain more than 100 million bacteria including E. coli bacteria which can cause diarrhea and staphylococci which normally cause skin infections.
According to Gayle McCombs, RDH, MS, associate professor and director of the Dental Hygiene Research Center at Old Dominion University, “There are hundreds of microorganisms in our mouths every day”. The plaque that is removed from your teeth is bacteria, thus you need to remember that you’re putting loads of bacteria on your toothbrush when we brush our teeth.
It is recommended by the American Dental Association that we should get a new toothbrush every three months. The bristles may easily wear out and bristles may spew in different directions. Another indication that toothbrush needs to be replaced is when the color of the bristle changes. Some general guides for proper care of toothbrush are listed below for your guidance.
1) Do not share toothbrush
It is simply not advisable to share toothbrushes with other people because exchange of body fluids may result into high risk of infections.
2) Do not cover toothbrushes or store in closed containers
Bacteria proliferate easily in a moist environment. Thus, there is an increased growth of microorganisms when toothbrushes are kept in a closed container.
3) Replacing the toothbrush every three months
The bristles on a toothbrush easily wear out and change color. Hence, it is recommended to replace it frequently as possible.
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