All of us have a habit of keeping our things at places where we visit mostly. We keep our toothbrush, shampoo, towel, and other objects at spots that are easy to reach without any hassle.
But there’s a big question, is it right to place your toothbrush near the toilet?
It’s done by many of us without a second thought but this habit can be a dangerous one as well.
So in this article, I want to help you understand what you should be doing, where you should be keeping your toothbrush, and how these recommendations can affect your overall oral health.
The toilet is a breeding ground for germs that may spread diseases and cause illnesses.
Keep your toothbrush away from the toilet seat to minimize bacteria exposure. This is because the aerosol effect of flushing the toilet sprays germs in the air. And these germs later land on the toothbrush’s surface. Keeping toothbrushes away from the toilet can make a big difference in how clean they stay. Or you should at least close the toilet lid before flushing.
Therefore, a medicine cabinet with a tight-fitting door is an ideal toothbrush storage method. Another good option is using a wall-mounted toothbrush holder with a lid.
Note: When storing your toothbrush in a closed container, make sure there’s enough ventilation to let the toothbrush dry!
Poop particles on a toothbrush: a real thing or myth?
Well, you know your toothbrush may have some bacteria on it. But have you ever realized that your toothbrush can have fecal matter on it as well?
Yes, it might be happening right now, even as you brush.
Studies have found that “the average toothbrush harbors more germs than the average toilet seat”.
The moment you flush the toilet, tiny fecal matter travels from the toilet to the toothbrush sitting nearby.
Therefore, safe storage of the toothbrush is critical to the toothbrush’s hygiene.
Dentists recommend rinsing toothbrushes with tap water and air-drying them. You can also sanitize a toothbrush by rinsing it in an antibacterial mouthwash.
Yet the best prevention technique is closing the toilet’s lid before flushing.
Final Conclusion:
Your toothbrush is gross because it has 10 million bacteria per cm2. It’s a restroom for saliva, plaque, blood, and debris particles from the mouth. And if you’re among the few who don’t put down the toilet seat, you are letting poop particles land on it.
When you flush a toilet, a cloud of microscopic poo particles swirl in the air. This cloud then spreads throughout your entire bathroom, eventually settling on every surface including your uncovered toothbrush bristles.
The burst of tiny aerosol droplets sprayed into the air after every flush is called “the toilet plume phenomena.”