There are so many other things to consider, when you’re focusing on your dental hygiene, that when it comes to brushing, you may not spend a lot of time thinking about toothbrush storage. Our Pella, IA team understands completely! You’re thinking more about what type of brush to purchase, about how well you’re perfecting your technique, whether you’re doing a thorough job, whether you’re taking two full minutes, and more! Fortunately, you’ve got us on your side to remind you that when you store your brush correctly, it actually makes an impact on your ability to keep your smile as healthy and clean as possible! Now, for advice you need (that’s very easy to follow).
Wrong: Keeping Your Brush In Dark, Enclosed Spaces
Alert! You might think that the best place to keep your toothbrush, once you’re through with your dental hygiene session, is in a dark, damp place (like a drawer, medicine cabinet, etc.). However, this is not the case! We remind you that the best location is right out in the open, on the counter, where it can dry naturally and get a bit of light (both of which help limit bacteria).
Wrong: Keeping Your Brush Bristles Down
Again, a very important part of practice your preventive care is your twice daily dental hygiene. In order to do your best with your hygiene, you’ll want to start with a toothbrush that is clean and free of bacteria. The good news is that you can easily cleanse your brush by simply holding it under running water and thoroughly rinsing the bristles before storing it. However, even if you’re keeping it out in the open, as mentioned, we remind you that there’s one more detail to consider: Keep the brush bristles up during storage. Don’t forget that if you pop it into a cup or other container bristles down, you’re not offering the air-flow, drying, and low-bacteria space suggested!
Wrong: Keeping Your Brush With Other Brushes
Patients who share a bathroom often don’t think twice about sharing dental hygiene items or storage. First, remember that you should never share a toothbrush with someone else, even a spouse or relative. Now, as for storing your toothbrush, it’s important to do your best to keep brush bristles from resting against one another. Use separate cups or find a toothbrush holder with dividers, so you’re not sharing oral bacteria with one another (and so you’re not sharing viruses, etc., during times like cold and flu season!). Easy.
Keep Your Toothbrush Safe With Simple Tips
Remember that we are happy to offer care tips for everything related to your oral health, even when the topic isn’t your smile but your toothbrush. Ask us all about caring for dental hygiene products when we see you! To learn more, schedule an appointment with your dentist by calling Allen & Neumann Family Dentistry in Pella, IA, today at (641) 628-1121.