For most people, brushing their teeth is something they do habitually without a second thought. The routine is locked in—pick up the brush, apply the toothpaste, get it wet, and get clean. While there’s nothing necessarily wrong with this, it may also be a good idea to think about the details surrounding your daily dental routine. For example, you might want to consider how you store your toothbrush each night. Here are a few tips you might want to keep in mind.
Sit Your Toothbrush Upright
If you’re like most people, you take the time to shake off the excess water on your toothbrush after you’re done with it. This is a good idea—keeping the brush dry prevents the development of germs on the bristles. However, leaving your brush flat when you store it causes moisture to pool around the toothbrush’s head, allowing bacteria to flourish. Investing in a toothbrush holder will allow you to easily set your toothbrush upright, keeping it clean and germ-free.
Keep It Away from Your Toilet
Depending on how powerful your flusher is, it’s possible for the bacteria in your toilet to be flung across the room whenever you flush. One 2005 study found that microorganisms could travel 2.7 feet away from the toilet, and some experts believe that they could travel as far as 6 feet away. It’s usually smart to keep your toothbrush suitably far away from the toilet for this reason—if your vanity is too close for comfort, you may want to invest in a wall-mounted toothbrush holder.
Keep It Out in the Open
Many people habitually keep their toothbrush in a drawer or medicine cabinet, i.e. in a dark, sometimes moist place. As you can imagine, this isn’t the best idea from the perspective of keeping your toothbrush clean, as this is often the perfect environment for bacteria to form. It’s generally a good idea to keep your toothbrush in the open air, preferably in the sunlight, to prevent bacteria from forming.
About Our Practice
At River Station Family Dentistry, we believe that the best way to practice dentistry is to understand our patients as individuals. In order to ensure that your care is not only comfortable but effective, we make it a point to customize treatment to the individual needs of our patients, ensuring that they are getting precisely what they need. All the treatments we provide are different, but no matter what you see us for you can expect the quality of services to always be excellent.
If you have any questions about how to perfect your dental hygiene, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (802) 223-2244.