It is something that many of us don’t think much about — our toothbrush. After a cough, a cold or the flu, however, when you leave the tissue box and the cough medicine behind, you also need to get rid of your toothbrush.

While the American Dental Association does not specifically make this recommendation for those who have experienced a cough, cold or the flu, the Association does advocate a “common-sense approach for situations where patients may be at higher risk to infection or re-infection by various micobes.”1

There is no need to fear getting sick from your toothbrush if you are in overall good health.

In the online article Toothbrush Care: Cleaning, Storing and Replacement, the American Dental Association asserts that there is “insufficient clinical evidence to support that bacterial growth on toothbrushes will lead to specific adverse oral or systemic health effects” but the Association does recommend that “consumers replace toothbrushes approximately every 3-4 months or sooner if the bristles become frayed with use.”2

The article further defines some situations where a toothbrush should be replaced more frequently. These situations include “if a patient or family member has a systemic disease that may be transmissible by blood or saliva or for those with compromised immune systems or low resistance to infection due to disease, chemotherapy, radiation treatment, etc.3”

For those thinking about ways to routinely disinfect their toothbrush while they are sick, some common approaches are not effective and can actually be more harmful. You should not store your toothbrush in close proximity to the toothbrushes of other family members, but don’t put your toothbrush in a closed container either.

According to Carolyn Jacobson’s Delta Dental article, The Do’s and Don’ts of Toothbrush Disinfecting, “you have to let your toothbrush breathe, as moist areas are prime real estate for bacterial growth.”4 The article recommends storing your toothbrush upright and separating it from other toothbrushes to prevent germs from mingling. The article also does not recommend putting your toothbrush in the dishwasher as toothbrushes were not designed to be cleaned in this way and can actually deteriorate when washed in the dishwasher.

According to the American Dental Association, forget soaking your toothbrush in antibacterial mouth rinse or using any commercially available toothbrush sanitizer as there is no clinical evidence that either of these practices has any positive or negative effect on oral or systemic health.5 In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, putting your toothbrush in disinfecting solutions or mouthwash may actually spread germs under the right conditions.6

Keeping your toothbrush clean is actually quite easy. The safest and most effective way to clean your toothbrush, according to the Delta Dental article, is to rinse your brush for 5-10 seconds each time you brush your teeth, making sure the water removes any remaining toothpaste and debris.

Sedki Dentistry, Commerce MI is a complete family dental clinic that offers services for all dental health concerns. Dr. Sedki and his experienced staff are professional and committed to providing uncompromised care to their patients. Maintaining long term dental health and a beautiful smile is their goal. Call Sedki Dentistry today and get started on a healthy, beautiful smile!

1, 2, 3, 5 Toothbrush Care: Cleaning, Storing and Replacement, American Dental Association
Link: https://www.ada.org/en/about-the-ada/ada-positions-policies-and-statements/statement-on-toothbrush-care-cleaning-storage-and-

4 The Do’s and Don’ts of Toothbrush Disinfecting, Delta Dental Blog Post by Carolyn Jacobson
Link: https://blog.deltadentalnm.com/2017/12/how-to-disinfect-toothbrushes/

6 Use and Handling of Toothbrushes, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Link: https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/questions/toothbrush-handling.html