When you brush your teeth you always rinse the brush when you are finished. This cleans off the toothpaste and any food particles that may have stuck to the brush. Though you have cleaned it, it is neither sanitized nor sterilized. Research shows that sterilizing the toothbrush really does no more than sanitizing the toothbrush. In other words, sterilizing the toothbrush is overkill and unnecessary. Sanitizing the toothbrush, however, can help. Sanitizing the toothbrush does not negate the need to change out your toothbrush every three to four months.

How Do I Sanitize My Toothbrush?

A lot of bacteria resides in your mouth. That bacteria naturally gets transferred to your toothbrush when you brush your teeth. Viruses such as the cold and influenza can stay on your toothbrush. When you sanitize it, these viruses can be neutralized. However, if you or a family member are sick, it is best to use disposable toothbrushes.

If you want to sanitize your toothbrush it should be done once a week. There are several ways that you can sanitize your toothbrush. One way is to use antibacterial mouthwash to do the job.

To sanitize your toothbrush using antibacterial mouthwash, you should first rinse the toothbrush. Put some of the mouthwash in a cup, then put the toothbrush in the mouthwash. Have it soak for about 15 minutes. Thoroughly wash the toothbrush after removing it from the cup and before using it again.
Another way to sanitize your toothbrush is to use hydrogen peroxide. After you brush your teeth and rinse it, you can put the toothbrush into a cup of hydrogen peroxide. You can store it there until it is time to brush your teeth again. Rinse well before using it to brush your teeth.

Lastly, if you want to spend the money, you can buy a UV sanitizer that does the job for you. Keep in mind this method can also shorten the useful life of your toothbrush and you will have to change them out more often. If you have any questions, or if you would like to learn more, please call us today at (360) 647-1715.