Your Toothbrush Could Be Making You Sick

Everybody uses them; men, women, boys and girls. However, few people know that the toothbrush they are using might be hazardous to their health.

The toothbrush consists of a head of tightly clustered bristles mounted on a handle. Most dentists recommend using a soft toothbrush since hard bristled toothbrushes can damage tooth enamel and irritate the gums.

When we leave the dentist's office, he usually gives us a toothbrush, but there are some things even he fails to tell us.

We know the best way to protect our teeth and gums is to brush our teeth at least twice a day. That will not help much unless you are using the correct toothbrush.

Like foods and cosmetics, and some other things, toothbrushes have a life span or a shelf life. The average toothbrush should be tossed after three or four months. If you forget how long you have been using your toothbrush, there is an indicator on the brushes that you have probably never noticed.

There are different colors of the bristles on a toothbrush for a special reason. There are not just there for decoration. Usually, there are two colors on the white bristles and when one color begins to fade into the second color, you should replace the toothbrush. That toothbrush cannot effectively remove plaque if the bristles are worn or frayed.

You should keep your toothbrush away from the toilet, but you should not cover the bristles between uses. The bristles should be allowed to air-dry. Bacteria and other organisms will grow faster on the bristles if they are covered up or kept in a closed or damp environment.

The best place to keep your toothbrush is let uncovered in your medical cabinet.

Hold your toothbrush under running tap water until you have cleaned off all remaining toothpaste and debris that have been left on the brush.

Some dentists suggest soaking your toothbrush in your mouthwash such as Listerine for at least five minutes each day. You do not need to do this if you have a toothbrush sanitizer.

Do not keep your toothbrush near your toilet. If you were to see a still shot of a toilet being flushed it would look a lot like the fourth of July fireworks, meaning that water sprays up out of the toilet and lands on what is near it.

It is easy to prevent that from happening. Always keep your toothbrush in the medicine cabinet.

You shouldn't have to be told not to share your toothbrush or not to use somebody else's toothbrush.

When you share toothbrushes, you are swapping germs with the other user. This can make both of you sick.

If you have forgotten your toothbrush when you travel or if you are without one for some other reason, simply put toothpaste on a washcloth and rub it across your teeth. It is not the ideal way, but since you won't be doing it that way for long, certainly it is better than using another person's brush.

If you store more than one brush in the same container and the heads are touching, the germs from one will definitely get on the other.

Replace your toothbrush at least once every three or four months. If you have been sick during this time, then you should change your toothbrush after you get well, according to the American Dental Association. Most people don't know they shouldn't keep using the same toothbrush they used when they were sick.

There is a warning on Colgate and Arm & Hammer toothbrush packages that germs can hide in toothbrush bristles and lead to reinfection. So anytime you have a cold or some other illness, change your toothbrush after you get well because germs might be lurking among the bristles.

Now that you know some helpful tips about your toothpaste, don't forget to check on your kids' toothbrushes. Perhaps you should buy a new toothbrush for the entire family and keep them on hand so they will be available when someone in the family needs one.

While you are at it, purchase extra brushes to take with you when you and your family travel.