A clean toothbrush doesn't just protect your teeth. Though dentists recommend cleaning your toothbrush regularly and replacing it every three to four months to maximize dental hygiene, a sanitary toothbrush can also help protect you from germs and bacteria that cause illness, including colds and the flu. Regularly sanitizing your toothbrushes can keep you and the rest of your family healthy. The best way to sanitize a toothbrush requires a combination of daily effort and occasional intensive effort.
Step 1
Wash your toothbrush every time you finish using it by running it under warm water and using your fingers to brush the bristles, removing any debris. Finish by rinsing the toothbrush with cold water.
Step 2
Soak your toothbrush in a cup of antibacterial mouthwash every night. Dip the bristled end of your toothbrush in the water and stir vigorously for 30 seconds before leaving your toothbrush to soak overnight. Discard the mouthwash in the morning.
Step 3
Fill a cup with white vinegar once a week, and soak your toothbrush in it bristle-side down overnight. Be sure to use white vinegar, because brown vinegar could permanently discolor the bristles.
Step 4
Run your toothbrush through the dishwasher on the top shelf once a month to completely clean it. Put it on the top shelf so that the heat on the lower level of the dishwasher won't melt it.
Step 5
Keep your toothbrush sanitized by cleaning your toothbrush holder with soap and warm water every few days and wiping down the counter tops and sink with warm water every time you brush.
Tips and Warnings
- If you don't have antibacterial mouthwash, you can add 2 tsp. of baking soda to a cup of cool water to soak your toothbrush in instead. Alternatively, you can add 1 tsp. of hydrogen peroxide to a cup of water and use that for soaking your toothbrush. Wash your hands every time you brush your teeth, both before and after, to prevent the transfer of germs. Keep a supply of new toothbrushes on hand so that you can throw away an old toothbrush and replace it with a new one any time you have a cold or illness.
Things You'll Need
- Antibacterial mouthwash
- White vinegar
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