Thursday, May 10, 2012

How To Properly Clean And Maintain Your Tooth Brush

Even though the tooth brush is used to keep your mouth squeaky clean, it ends up dirty quite fast. Your mouth is filled with germs and bacteria. These germs, bacteria, saliva, plague, and sometimes blood from your gums can end up on the tooth brush. This is why it is extremely important to practice proper toothbrush maintenance.
There are basic solutions to germs on the tooth brush to follow. First, gently clean the bristles each time it is used and let it dry in an upright position. If sharing a tooth brush holder with others, do not let the tooth brush bristles touch another tooth brush. And never share tooth brushes. Some people believe that keeping their tooth brush in a closed container is sanitary, because it will protect the tooth brush from outside germs, but this is a false belief. In all actuality, keeping your tooth brush in a closed container will give bacteria a chance to multiply in a small, humid space. It is especially important not to store it in one of these spaces if the tooth brush is wet. A tooth brush needs a chance to dry and breathe. Always store your tooth brush away from the toilet in an open space.

When it comes to deciding whether or not to keep your current tooth brush, here is the basic rule of thumb: if the bristles start looking worn, replace it. This typically happens between three and four months of use. This guarantees that you won't spend a long amount of time using a germ covered tooth brush, and the tooth brush will work better. If the bristles are bent, the tooth brush just won't work as well.

There are other methods for taking care of your tooth brush if you want to be sure it is clean. A very simple thing to do is have three tooth brushes to rotate using during the day. This allows your tooth brush to dry over a twenty four hour period.

Another very easy way to clean your tooth brush is to soak it in vinegar every two weeks. Vinegar is good at killing molds, germs, and bacterias. Using this on your tooth brush is quite effective.

A few other solutions are also quick fixes. Some people have found running their tooth brushes through the dish washer on the top rack useful. Others soak their tooth brush in boiling water. Toothbrush maintenance is very simple and important for your oral health; don't forget it!


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