Flu, cold, and sinus infection season are upon us. One thing people often forget to do when they've been sick is to get a new toothbrush! Otherwise you're just putting the same old germs back in your mouth when you're well again. And on the days in between, soak your toothbrush in Listerine to kill off the germs after you've brushed your teeth. A couple bucks on a new toothbrush sure beats the cost of another doctor visit and more medications!
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Changing your toothbrush makes good sense but at what point do you do that. If you do it too early, your new toothbrush has old germies. If you do it too late, you are putting old germies back in your mouth. I keep 2 toothbrushes. I alternate & soak one in peroxide then let dry. The other one is soaked in mouthwash & used that day. The next day I switch them to make sure that I get as few germies as possible. I also have been known to put my toothbrushes in the dishwasher with some Clorox when everyone is passing bugs around my house. Do you think that this is overkill?
You can also put your toothbrushes in the dishwasher and that will kill all germs, because of the dishwasher soap and the high temp. on the water. Quick way to clean them often.
I do think people worry too much about germs.
Because germs die when in dry environment, toothbrushes don't store many germs; they dry out in the time between brushings. Also once you've had a cold or illness your body is then immune to that strain of germ. We all panic too much I think. The human race has survived a long time; I don't think toothbrushes are going to finish us off!
To Oft Forgotten Gern Catcher - I think the bleach is overkill. Bleach is toxic (and most dishwasher products already have it in them anyway.
I go to the dollar store, buy several packages of 5 for a dollar, and use a new one each time I brush....after I brush, I put the toothbrush into a glass of mouthwash. The next morning, I rinse the brushes under HOT water and put them in a clean glass, brush end up and not touching each other, and leave them to dry all day (on my dresser, NOT in the bathroom!!). I start a new batch that day and switch off with the dry ones, the next day....so I always have one batch soaking, one batch drying, and one batch to use....after the illness is over, I buy a new GOOD toothbrush, and put all the dollar store ones into a paper bag to use for cleaning things, such as around the bathroom taps, etc.....they are all sterilized in the mouthwash, and recycling is GOOD!!!!
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