Germs living on my toothbrush? Say it ain’t so!
Since we use our toothbrushes to clean our teeth, we like to think that they are clean. However, the ugly truth is that they have bacteria living on them. In fact, scientists have found more than 10 million bacteria living in a single toothbrush. The bacteria on your toothbrush can cause greater health problems. Here are a few of the microorganisms that may be living on your toothbrush:
Streptococcus: This bacterium attacks tooth enamel, which may lead to decay and cavities. This is also the bacterium that causes strep throat. Remember, there is bacteria everywhere, so you do not to be afraid of bacteria in general. It’s the bacteria like streptococcus that are unhealthy germs that we have to take measures to prevent.
Toilet bacteria: If you are like most people you store your toothbrush close to your toilet. You should make sure that there is a safe distance between these two places. You do not want your toilet water splashing up onto your toothbrush after you flushing the toilet. Another way to avoid this contamination is to get a case for your toothbrush. Cases can be extremely effective, especially if you have a small bathroom where the sink and toilet are close together.
Staphylococcus Aureus: This type of bacteria is known to live in your sink. People that have other infections in their bodies want to avoid this bacteria at all costs because their body may have a problem fighting it off.
Food Debris: What you ate for dinner the night before may still be on your toothbrush. You can avoid this by making sure that you wash your toothbrush thoroughly after each use.
There are a lot of different techniques to keep your toothbrush clean, so make sure that you find one that works for you. The best way to keep these microorganisms away is to remember to get a new toothbrush regularly.
