Cleaning Toothbrush

                                                             How to clean toothbrush                                  

Maintenance of proper oral health does not involve cleaning one’s teeth only, it involves the application of the knowledge of how to clean toothbrush too. Many individuals with healthy lifestyles do not know this and, so this is a subject that is regularly left unattended to.                                                                                    Centers for Disease Control show that even after toothbrushes are visibly rinsed and cleaned, they can still harbor contamination and contain a number of pathogenic organisms that can lead to degradation of the gum and also cause dental diseases such as gingivitis.                                                                      

The following steps indicate the best way of how to clean toothbrush. Their application will reduce the prevalence of succumbing to dental disorders and help one to lead a healthy oral life.

·         Rinse your teeth thoroughly with fresh running water. After that, rinse it thoroughly again under hot water that is also running. Afterwards, agitate then soak the head of the toothbrush in a solution of 3% hydrogen peroxide and ½ L water for almost a minute.

·         Shake the toothbrush vigorously to ensure it completely dries. Air-dry it in an area that is well ventilated and an area that is not close to the water.

·         Avoid keeping your toothbrush in a cabinet with other toothbrushes, to avoid them from rubbing each other and spreading germs.

·         Completely wash your hands before handling your toothbrush, before reaching for the toothpaste tube which might be contaminated. This also ensures that any contamination in one’s hands is washed away and cleaned.

·         Completely wash your toothbrush before and after using it. This is done by rubbing it using one’s thumb under running water for more than 10 seconds.

·         Deep clean toothbrush occasionally by putting it on the dishwasher’s top rack and then run it with the dishwasher’s ordinary soap. One thing to avoid here is the use of liquid ordinary dishwasher soap since it may cause the suds to spill out onto the kitchen floor.

·         Replace your toothbrush every three months with a new one. If it happens to be an electric toothbrush, replace its head after every three months. This helps in using toothbrush which is effective in teeth cleaning.

·         Always apply toothpaste in your toothbrush; this will help its ingredients in maintaining its cleanliness. Microbial growth will also be hindered by this move, hence preventing long-term accumulation of bacteria which may cause dental disorders such as cavities and gingivitis.