Last Updated on December 19, 2020
3. Storing your toothbrush
After you wash your toothbrush, you should always leave it in an open space so it can air-dry. Closed cabinets or containers and moisturized environments are the worst places where you can keep your toothbrush since germs thrive on this type of location. Keep your toothbrush somewhere open, like near a window or the sink, just be careful to put your toothbrush away from the toilet since the flushing releases particles that might end up in your toothbrush. Also, don’t store a lot of toothbrushes in the same container. We know that families are known to do this, but it’s also a way for germs to be spread, so separate them!
4. Using hydrogen peroxide as a toothbrush cleaner and disinfectant
It’s always a good idea to disinfect your toothbrush every now and then to make sure it’s germs free. The most common and best way to disinfect your toothbrush is by soaking it in a solution containing a small percentage (3 to 5%) of hydrogen peroxide, which is a strong disinfectant that destroys all germs. You can also use antiseptic mouthwash since it has a lot of ingredients like alcohol and methol that are effective at killing bacteria and germs. All you need to do is pick what solution you want to use and soak your toothbrush in there for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse and continue to use it normally. Using UV light sanitizers is also pretty common, but it’s more expensive, and it doesn’t have such a high success rate as using hydrogen peroxide. And if you don’t want to bother with cleaning and disinfecting your brush, you can always spend more money and get a self-cleaning toothbrush.
5. Storing your toothbrush while traveling
A toothbrush is the last thing we pack whenever going on vacation. The reason for it is simple; whether we’re leaving in the morning or at night, we always want to brush our teeth before we leave. Consequently, we end up storing our toothbrushes when they are still wet right after we use it, normally in a plastic bag together with the toothpaste. The first thing wrong with this scenario is that keeping a toothbrush, especially a wet one, on a closed environment like a plastic bag is a recipe for disaster. Air-dry your toothbrush before you store it until it’s completely dry! Then get one of those containers with little wholes for your toothbrush, the holes allow air to flow, and it has a longer life period than a plastic bag. We also advise you to have two different toothbrushes, one for your home and another one for traveling proposes. This way, you will never forget to pack your toothbrush!
