How to Keep Your Toothbrush Clean

Everyone knows that keeping your mouth clean is essential to maintain good oral health. But did you know that keeping your toothbrush clean is just as crucial? After all, you use it to scrub plaque, bacteria, and leftover food particles off your teeth and tongue – that means all that gunk is now on your beloved bristles. Unless you disinfect it properly, it won’t be effectively doing its job at cleaning your teeth. Read on to learn how you can keep your toothbrush clean.

How Do You Clean a Toothbrush?

There are many ways you can keep your toothbrush clean between replacements, including:

Run Hot Water Over It Before and After Each Use

You probably use this approach without even realizing that it’s an effective way to sanitize your toothbrush. By running hot water over the bristles before and after each use, you can eliminate bacteria that accumulated between sessions and after brushing. Usually, this technique is enough to keep a toothbrush clean in between uses. Keep in mind that the water should be hot enough to produce steam!

Soak It in Antibacterial Mouthwash

Do you want to take it a step further? Soak your toothbrush in an antibacterial mouthwash! To use this method, submerge the bristles in a small cup of mouthwash for about two minutes after brushing your teeth. However, be mindful of how often you utilize this technique – some mouthwashes contain harsh ingredients that break the bristles down faster.

Use Denture Cleanser

If you have dentures, you can use the special cleaning solution to disinfect your toothbrush as well. It’s made up of antimicrobial ingredients that attack bacteria and plaque, making it an excellent sterilization method. Just remember not to reuse the solution on your dentures!

Use a UV Toothbrush Sanitizer

Although a UV toothbrush sanitizer isn’t necessary to clean your toothbrush, it’s an investment that can certainly help keep it sterilized. One study found that UV light is an effective way to disinfect toothbrushes, so it doesn’t hurt to have one if you want it!

Tips to Keep Your Toothbrush Clean

Now that you’ve thoroughly cleaned your toothbrush, you’re going to want to keep it that way! Here’s how to keep it clean between uses:

• To keep bacterial growth at a minimum, try storing your toothbrush in a hydrogen peroxide solution that’s changed daily.
• Does your household store toothbrushes together? Be sure to keep them a couple of inches apart from each other. Otherwise, you risk bacterial cross-contamination among the bristles.
• When you flush the toilet, fecal matter rises into the air and spreads harmful bacteria all over your bathroom, including your toothbrush! To prevent contamination, keep it as far away from the toilet as possible.
• After brushing your teeth, let your toothbrush air dry by storing it in an open container or holder. Covering it can lead to more bacteria growth on the bristles.

Taking proper care of your toothbrush is just as important as caring for your teeth. Make sure to replace your toothbrush every three to four months (or as soon as the bristles become splayed) to get the most out of your brushing sessions!

About the Practice

At Amburgey Dental, we always make patients our priority. Our team strives to make every visit as comfortable, relaxing, and satisfying as possible. We enjoy educating our patients to help them make informed and confident decisions about their oral health. If you have any questions about toothbrush care, we’re more than happy to answer them for you. Visit our website or call (276) 258-5568 to speak to a professional.