(Toothbrush Care) Do this for 30 seconds before brushing your teeth to help with oral health.

Many people believe that simply brushing their teeth properly is sufficient for oral health. However, an unclean toothbrush can actually harm your oral health. Let's look at the proper way to care for your toothbrush.

◇ Rinse with hot water for at least 30 seconds

If the bristles are dirty, brushing your teeth is useless. It is recommended to rinse the bristles in hot water for about 30 seconds before and after brushing. You can use the hottest water available on the tap. Pouring hot water over the bristles before squeezing out toothpaste helps remove invisible bacteria. After brushing, spread the bristles apart with a clean finger and rinse under running water to remove any debris stuck between them. Then, finish by rinsing the bristles again with hot water for another 30 seconds. If using hot water is a concern, using lukewarm water is sufficient.

◇ Toothbrushes should be stored as far away from the toilet as possible

Toothbrush bristles stored in the bathroom become contaminated easily. This is because bacteria spread into the air when the toilet is flushed. In fact, a study published in the Indian Journal of Dental Research revealed that toothbrushes stored near the toilet are vulnerable to bacterial contamination. The research team investigated the contamination of bristles on 20 toothbrushes stored in a bathroom with a toilet and 20 toothbrushes stored in a bathroom without a toilet. As a result, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans were detected only in the toothbrushes stored in the bathroom with a toilet after just one month of use. After three months, E. coli was even found. It is best to keep toothbrushes outside the bathroom, but if that is not possible, store them as far away from the toilet as possible.

◇ Place in a well-ventilated place

It is also important to store your toothbrush in a well-ventilated area. Bacteria and mold thrive in damp and humid environments. You should not store toothbrushes in places like bathroom drawers or airtight containers. In particular, if stored in airtight containers, water dripping from the toothbrush can accumulate, allowing bacteria to multiply easily. Ideally, store your toothbrush near a window where it receives plenty of sunlight and airflow. Using a toothbrush sterilizer is also a good method. However, bacteria can still grow in sterilizers if used for a long time, so they must be cleaned periodically.

◇ Store toothbrushes separately, not together.

It is common to store multiple toothbrushes in a single container, such as a cup. This can cause cross-contamination as the bristles come into contact with each other. Cross-contamination refers to the transfer of microorganisms from one person's toothbrush to another. When storing toothbrushes together, it is best to keep them at least 5 cm apart to prevent the bristles from touching.