You bought a new toothbrush and you succumbed to the sirens of marketing by adding a small plastic case, intended to protect the tip. The intention is commendable: by doing so, you think of isolating the bristles of your toothbrush to avoid bacterial contamination, for example when you go on a trip.
Yes, but here it is: in reality, toothbrush cases do more harm than good, as explained by Dr. Christophe Lequart, dental surgeon and national spokesperson for the French Union for Oral Health. Dental (UFSBD): “these cases will slow the drying of the bristles of the brush and the humidity will promote the development of bacteria and viruses“Bad idea, then!
How to keep your toothbrush clean and healthy?
To keep a toothbrush clean and without risk of microbial infection, Dr. Christophe Lequart advises several good reflexes:
- Rinse your toothbrush with hot water after each use, passing the grease of your thumb over the bristles,
- Let your toothbrush dry upside down, for example by placing it in a glass after use,
- Change your toothbrush every 3 months (every season) or every time you’ve been sick,
- Isolate toothbrushes from sick people (who are suffering from the flu, gastroenteritis or Covid-19, for example).
If in doubt, you can disinfect your toothbrush from time to time by soaking it for a few minutes in a mixture of boiling water + baking soda (1 cup of water + 2 tbsp of baking soda ). But it is by no means mandatory!
Source :UFSBD
