Is Your Toothbrush Unhygienic?

Myths about the uncleanliness of different toothbrushes are as old as, well, the toothbrush. It can be hard at times to know what claims to take seriously, and which ones to ignore. That’s why we’ve put together a handy list of some common myths, and whether or not there’s any truth to them.

The airborne toilet bacteria

Claim: Keeping your toothbrush anywhere near the toilet is unhygienic.

This, unfortunately, is true. If you (or anyone who uses your toilet) flushes with the lid open, faecal bacteria spreads through the room, also landing n your toothbrush. That means if you keep your toothbrush on the sink, chances are you are brushing your teeth with bacteria you definitely don’t want anywhere near your mouth.

Solution?  Put your toothbrush away in a cupboard or cover it up in a way that it would be shielded from all those flushes, and please, close the lid when you flush. If you don’t want your toothbrush spritzed in the contents of your toilets, chances are, you don’t want to be sprayed in it either.

The toothbrush case bacteria

Claim: Keeping your toothbrush in a bag or a case will grow bacteria.

Yes, routinely covering up your toothbrush and not letting it airdry properly will create a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, microbes, and even fungi and mould. These microorganisms love wet, warm places.

At home, put your toothbrush somewhere at least 6 ft away from the toilet where it is free to airdry. This will ensure that the brush dries quickly and stops further acceleration of bacteria growth.

However, if for instance you are travelling, there are few options but to put your toothbrush away in a bag or a case to keep it safe from other bacteria. Just make sure that once you’ve checked in to your room, get your toothbrush out from its case and put it in a cup on your bedside table or someplace else where it can airdry.

Sharing toothbrushes

Claim: Sharing toothbrushes is unhygienic.

Well, yes. Sharing toothbrushes is unhygienic. This is because human mouths are homes of a range of bacteria and microbes (10 billion) that can be harmless to one person, but harmful to another. Especially people with weakened immune systems could face real harm from this practice. Apart from that, if you’re sharing a toothbrush with someone you’re already kissing, sharing a toothbrush isn’t a major health concern.