Many people think that just brushing their teeth well is enough for oral health. However, an unclean toothbrush can actually harm oral health. Let's learn about the proper way to care for your toothbrush.

Rinse with hot water for more than 30 seconds

If the toothbrush bristles are dirty, brushing is pointless. It is recommended to rinse the toothbrush bristles in hot water for about 30 seconds before and after brushing. Use the hottest water available from the tap. Pouring hot water onto the toothbrush bristles before applying toothpaste helps eliminate invisible bacteria. After brushing, use clean fingers to spread the bristles apart and rinse out any debris trapped between them with running water. Then, rinse the toothbrush bristles again with hot water for another 30 seconds to finish. If using hot water is burdensome, using lukewarm water is also good.

◇ Store your toothbrush as far away as possible from the toilet

Toothbrushes stored in the bathroom are easily contaminated because bacteria spread into the air when flushing the toilet. A study published in the Indian Journal of Dental Research found that toothbrushes stored close to the toilet are vulnerable to bacterial contamination. The research team examined 20 toothbrushes stored in bathrooms with toilets and 20 stored in bathrooms without toilets to assess contamination levels. The results showed that only the toothbrushes stored in bathrooms with toilets had Staphylococcus aureus and Mutans bacteria after one month of use. After three months, Escherichia coli was also detected. It is best to keep toothbrushes outside the bathroom, but if that's difficult, store them as far away from the toilet as possible.

Place in a well-ventilated area

It is also important to keep your toothbrush in a well-ventilated area. Bacteria and mold prefer damp and humid places. Do not store your toothbrush in bathroom drawers or sealed containers. Especially when stored in a sealed container, water from the toothbrush can accumulate in the container, making it easy for bacteria to multiply. Store your toothbrush in a place where it can receive plenty of sunlight and good airflow, such as near a window. Using a toothbrush sanitizer is also a good method. However, if used for a long time, bacteria can also proliferate on the sanitizer. Therefore, the sanitizer should be cleaned regularly.

Store toothbrushes separately, not together.

It is common to store multiple toothbrushes in a single container such as a cup. The bristles may touch each other, leading to cross-contamination between toothbrushes. Cross-contamination refers to the transfer of microorganisms remaining on someone else's toothbrush to another toothbrush. When storing toothbrushes together, it is recommended to keep them at least 5cm apart to prevent the bristles from touching.