You stumble into the bathroom, grab your toothbrush and the toothpaste and brush away. When you're finished, you rinse under the running water tap, shake it off and, most likely, plop it into the cup waiting there on the sink edge and head off for your day.

But there on your toothbrush, thousands and thousands of germs and bacteria are kicking into high gear and multipling like crazy in preparation for the next time you use it.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, "Even after being visibly rinsed clean, toothbrushes can remain contaminated with potentially pathogenic organisms."

Yuck! Yuck! Yuck!

Here are some ways to get your toothbrush clean at home.

TRY--Use at least 70% strength rubbing alcohol to water. Change the solution every 3-4 days.

CONCLUSION--Must have 1 cup per brush sitting somewhere on your cabinet or sink at all times (cross your fingers one of the kids or hubby doesn't knock it over). When ready to use, the brush must be thoroughly rinsed under hot water for several minutes or it will taste of the alcohol. This will be something you (Mom) will end up doing every morning because the kids "just can't seem to do it right". Also the solution must be changed on schedule or it becomes ineffective.

Alcohol is cheap, no argument there. But you do have to run the hot water for several moments to rinse before use and that equals cost by a higher water bill, a higher sewer bill, higher energy bill (heating the water) plus using extra water resources.

TRY--Hydrogen peroxide to soak your toothbrush clean. The solution must be changed every 3-4 days or when cloudy.

CONCLUSION--Again you must have 1-cup and brush per person for the best sanitation and that means several cups sitting out on your cabinet. You must really, really rinse the brush well before using. The peroxide has a horrible taste and smell. Again, you have gobs of water running down the drain which will raise the water bill higher.

TRY--Rinse your toothbrush with water and antibacterial liquid soap. Scrub the bristles with your finger or thumb until you feel they are clean. Rinse and use.

CONCLUSION--Ever had your mouth washed out with soap when you were a kid? Well, that memory will come rushing back if you fail to get all the soap out of the bristles. Trust me! Also, "scrubbing" with your finger produces a mass of splatters all over the countertop and walls. Have a kid (or husband) do this and you'll have to spend at least 15 minutes wiping down surrounding surfaces each time they brush. Who has that kind of extra time?

TRY--Put your toothbrush in the dishwasher or the washing machine.

CONCLUSION--I don't know how you feel but the thought of bits of teeny, tiny food particles from my pots and pans and other peoples dirty dishes getting slung into the bristles of my toothbrush just about makes me sick. Worse yet, the thought of my toothbrush swimming around with particles from dirty underpants and socks in the washing machine really makes me want to gag! Dirty is dirty and things can get just so clean without some extra help! I'm not putting my clean underwear in my mouth because I don't think they ever get "brand-new clean" once used so why would my toothbrush fair any better?

The very best way I've found to clean my family's toothbrushes it to STEAM CLEAN them. There are many products on the market today that will do this, but the one I like the best (and have been using for a couple of years now) and think does the best job is the GERM TERMINATOR.

It generates a continuous burst of steam that wipes out more than 99.9999% of all germs and bacteria on your brush. Another plus--your brushes are stored in a sanitized container until the next time you're ready to use them. No contamination from dust, outside sources or poop-type stuff floating in the air!

No muss! No fuss! Just nice clean, sanitized germ and bacteria free toothbrushes!!

Dentists can be frustrating. You wait a month-and-a-half for an appointment, and they say, "I wish you'd come to me sooner."