To maintain good dental health, you need to brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day. Brushing and flossing daily is the basis of good oral hygiene. However, for brushing your teeth to be effective, you need to make sure you take proper care of your toothbrush.
After you brush your teeth, take a few seconds to clean your toothbrush. All you need to do is run your toothbrush under water until all the toothpaste and the visible residue is gone from your toothbrush.
You may also want to shake your toothbrush a little in order to dislodge as much water as possible from your toothbrush; this will help it dry effectively.
Once you clean your toothbrush, store it out in the open. Don't put your toothbrush inside of a container. You want your toothbrush exposed to the air so that it dries. You want your toothbrush to dry completely, which will help kill the microorganisms on your toothbrush and keep it sanitary.
You should also store your toothbrush so it is sitting upright, not sitting flat on the counter. Invest in a toothbrush holder that will keep your toothbrush upright. Put the toothbrush holder on an open-air shelf or find a holder you can attach to the wall.
When your toothbrush lays flat on the counter, water can easily pool up and allow bacteria to grow on your toothbrush. Laying your toothbrush flat on the counter could also expose your toothbrush to spray from the sink.
Don't put your toothbrush inside of your medicine cabinet or a drawer either; your toothbrush really needs that open air in order to effectively dry and kill the microorganism on your brush in between each time your brush your teeth during the day.
Pay attention to where your toothbrush is stored in relation to your toilet. When you flush your toilet, microorganisms from the toilet can spray away from your toilet. Make sure your toothbrush holder is as far away from your toilet as possible.
You shouldn't keep the same toothbrush for years on end. Replace your toothbrush every few months. In order to remember when to replace your toothbrush, you can write the date you should replace your toothbrush on the handle or set a reminder on your phone.
If you are an aggressive brusher, and you tend to wear down the bristles on your toothbrush fast, you'll need to replace your toothbrush more often. Once the bristles are frayed on your toothbrush, it is time to let it go.
When you are getting over a cold or the flu is another time you should replace your toothbrush. That way, you can ensure your toothbrush is clean and doesn't spread your infection.
If you are not able to replace your toothbrush right away, run it through the dishwasher or rinse it in some mouthwash to help clean it off until you can get a new toothbrush. You can also use a toothbrush sanitize on your toothbrush. If you have a bamboo toothbrush, you can boil it in some water. Boiling a plastic toothbrush in hot water is not advisable as the hot water could melt and alter the plastic.
