Eight Ways to Sanitize Your Toothbrush

Toothbrushes are used to maintain the cleanliness and health of teeth, and for this to be done effectively, a toothbrush needs to be properly sanitized. A dirty toothbrush can cause more bacteria to develop rather than cleaning it away. Over time, a toothbrush collects old food particles, spit and bacteria that should not be placed back in the mouth via brushing. So, if brushing teeth regularly is a necessity for good oral hygiene, how can you make sure you do it with clean and sanitized bristles. Get Teeth Whitening treatment from eugene dentist for better health. rn1. Wash it properly Cleaning your toothbrush thoroughly after each use can help keep it free of bacteria or food. Hold your toothbrush under running water while scrubbing the bristles with your finger to free unwanted substances. Store the toothbrush standing up with the bristles at the top, so that excess water and substances can run from it. 2. Ultraviolet light There are ultraviolet (UV) lights that are sold specifically for toothbrush disinfection. These lights are used by placing the head of a toothbrush in a container in which the UV lights are placed on the bristles for over five minutes. The UV lights on the brush kill off a good portion of bacteria, though they are not known to remove 100 percent of them. This is one of the most popular disinfectant methods as it requires little work and is pretty effective. 3. Disinfectant tablets Cleaning tablets can be used to disinfect toothbrushes and other dental devices, such as dentures. These disinfectant tablets are placed in a cup of water, and then the toothbrush bristles put into the water. The bubbles from the ingredients in the tablets remove excess bacteria and food stuck within their crevices. 4. Soaking it in mouthwash Soaking the bristles of a toothbrush in mouthwash is an efficient way to kill off bacteria. To give the best sanitization to the toothbrush, fluoride mouthwash should be used. Fluoride is used to inhibit bacteria’s ability to process sugars and carbohydrates and strengthen tooth enamel. 5. Freezing it Placing your toothbrush in the freezer may sound strange, but it is a proficient way of killing any remaining bacteria. They can live and reproduce only in warmer temperatures, which is why they thrive in an oral environment. Freezing one’s toothbrush is a safe way to ensure that any existing bacteria are killed. 6. Boiling it Similar to freezing, bacteria cannot handle extreme temperatures. Boiling the head of the toothbrush for 10 minutes can adequately remove and kill any living bacteria inside the bristles. Some toothbrushes are not strong enough to endure boiling water however, and may lose bristles. So, it’s important to use a quality toothbrush so that this doesn’t happen. 7. Put in the dishwasher Placing the toothbrush in the dishwasher can yield similar results to boiling. The boiling hot temperature of the dishwasher is used to disinfect dishes but can be effective in killing bacteria on a toothbrush. Place the toothbrush on the top rack of the dishwasher rather than on the bottom, and use regular dish washing soap. Once again, if a poor quality toothbrush is used, some bristles may be lost during this process. 8. Replace it frequently Dental professionals recommend replacing a toothbrush a minimum of every three months. Replacing a toothbrush frequently means that any bacteria that accumulate on the bristles will be thrown away rather than placed back in the mouth. If one becomes sick, it is recommended to throw away the toothbrush and replace it immediately afterwards to get rid of the extra germs and bacteria that can spread to other toothbrushes in the home.