What’s New and Most Popular
Enter your email address to receive updates
and freebies from NicheTopics
© Copyright 2004-
Niche Topics (Diet, Health & Fitness) is dedicated to help you lead a happy and healthy
life. We provide the latest updates on nutrition, dieting, exercise, fitness, home
remedies and natural cures for common illnesses, and other health-
Categories
Resources
How to Kill Germs and Sanitize Your Toothbrush
By Diane Hanson
Let me ask a simple question – is your toothbrush clean? You'd probably answer "YES" without even thinking but the fact is, your toothbrush can be home to various potentially harmful germs even after being rinsed. It can become contaminated with bacteria, blood, saliva, oral debris and toothpaste.
Brushing your teeth with a contaminated toothbrush can cause illness and infections. To keep your toothbrushes clean and free from germs, here are a few basic methods to sanitize each family member's toothbrush:
1. After each use, rinse your toothbrush thoroughly with water after to remove any residual toothpaste and other remains.
2. Store your toothbrush in an upright position and let it to air dry after each use. If storing multiple brushes, make sure to leave gaps between toothbrushes to prevent germs from spreading from one toothbrush to another.
Also, store toothbrushes at least 5 feet away from the toilet. Studies have also found that flushing a toilet sprays millions of bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli into the air. Some of these can land on your toothbrush!
3. Don't keep a toothbrush in an airtight container nor cover toothbrushes because moisture is a good environment for germs to breed.
4. Sanitize toothbrush weekly by placing your it in the microwave oven, and heat it up for 10 to 15 seconds to get rid of bacteria. If you use an electric toothbrush, simply remove the head and put it in the microwave.
5. Make a disinfectant solution of equal parts of water and hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria growth on toothbrushes. Stir these two ingredients together with your brush and then let the brush sit in the mixture, bristle side down, for a couple of minutes.
6. To kill germs, fill a cup with an antibacterial mouth wash and place your toothbrush, bristle side down, for a few minutes.
7. Another good way to sanitize toothbrush is to place it in boiling water for 1-
8. Invest in a toothbrush sanitizer. This high-
9. Replace toothbrush every 3 months. You may need to replace it sooner than standard life expectancy, depending on how often you brush your teeth.
Inspect your brush regularly for signs of tattered bristles, which can render the toothbrush inadequately equipped to clean your teeth. Replace more often for kids.
Consider an electric toothbrush, particularly if you've arthritis or other problems that make brushing difficult.
10. On top of that, never share your toothbrush with anybody else, not even with your spouse. Sharing toothbrushes may result in accidental exchange of bodily fluids, which can cause infection.
These toothbrush sanitizing methods should be enough to kill bacteria on your toothbrushes and keep them free from germs for each day's use.
Do Home Teeth Whitening Kits Work?
Are whitening products effective? What types of teeth staining and yellowing don’t response well to them?
What’s Lurking in Your Toothpastes?
Toothpaste may clean your teeth, but it comes with potential health risks. What are the hidden dangers of toothpaste and harmful ingredients to avoid?
5 Best Homemade Toothpaste Recipes
Make your own toothpaste that cleans and whitens naturally, and avoid harmful additives.
Make natural organic kids toothpaste. Really easy and cheap. Your kids will love brushing their teeth with it!
How to whiten your teeth in a safe and effective way.
How to Have Healthy Teeth and Gums
Learn to take proper care of your teeth and gums so that they stay strong and healthy throughout your life.
How you can make teeth less sensitive with proven home remedies. Cure sensitive teeth once and for all.
How to Protect Your Teeth from Acid Erosion
Tooth erosion can lead to tooth loss. Find out the causes and what you can do to protect your teeth from acid damage.
Find the causes of bad breath and learn home remedies to get rid of bad breath quickly and naturally.
