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Maintaining good oral health is vital for leading a healthy life. Bad oral health can cause you to have bleeding gums, cavity, plaque, bad breath, and other oral diseases. Your mouth is the leading and primary passage into your body, and if it is not maintained, it can have a major negative impact on your health. Germs like bacteria and viruses in your mouth enter the body and your bloodstream with solid and liquids causing infection and inflammation. Brushing your teeth is a daily ritual, but did you know that your toothbrush can make you sick?
It is essential to visit a dentist regularly and brush your teeth twice every day. This is what every parent must teach their child. However, do you know that even a small thing such as your toothbrush can have significant consequences on your health? Who knew, right? It is indeed an irony that something that is meant to clean your teeth can do quite the opposite. Your toothbrush can be home to many harmful germs, just waiting to be transferred into your mouth and body.
This scary thought is enough to shake you up and act, but what should one do? Changing your brush is not enough if you do not change your habits; here are a few things you can keep in mind to save yourself from falling sick because of your toothbrush:
Your Toothbrush Can Make you Sick. 5 Habits to Adopt for Better Health:
1. Washing Your Hands Thoroughly
You don’t realize it, but apart from your toothbrush, your hands can also house many germs. Be sure to teach your little one to wash their hands with disinfectants such as Dettol Hand Wash to keep germs at bay. Make it a habit and practice this before every time you brush, floss or rinse your mouth. Your kids are watching you!
You can learn more about the proper way to wash your hands to eradicate the risk of germ transfer. These good habits, if maintained and taught to children can take you a long way!
2. Changing Your Brush from Time to Time
The American Dental Association (ADA) suggests that you should make it a point to change yours as well as your entire family’s toothbrush every three to four months or even sooner to maintain healthy oral hygiene. Another thing you should keep in mind is by replacing your toothbrush after you have recovered from any illnesses or infections in the past. It is also recommended to use a different tube of toothpaste if you are sick to avoid making other people in the family sick as well. After all, you don’t want to be the patient zero that spreads diseases in the family.
3. Keeping Your Tooth Brush Clean
Make it a habit to clean rinse toothbrushes with tap water before and after brushing teeth. Refrain from covering your brush with a protective cap or storing it in a closed container when it is still damp or wet as it promotes the growth of microorganisms. Shake out the excess water from the toothbrush and let it air dry before storing it.
4. Storing Your Brush Properly
It’s hard to believe, but the toothbrush holder is one of the first places for germs to house. Make it a point to clean your toothbrush holder from time to time to not have a germ infestation. Also, ensure that your toothbrush isn’t stored near the flush as bacteria are released into the air every time you flush and can land on your toothbrush. Another storage tip to keep in mind is to keep your toothbrush away from others in your house. unintentional touching can cause germs and bacteria to transfer from one to another.
5. Not Sharing Your Toothbrush
Love is about sharing and caring towards your family; it is also often said to be blind. However, don’t be blinded by it enough to be using the same brush as other family members (especially your partner). Doing this is a direct threat to your oral health. It is an easy transfer of germs from one person to the other and causes stomach infection faster than a blink of an eye. You anyway share everything with your partner, it is a good idea to refrain from the activity of using the same toothbrush.
Here’s What We’re Saying!
As mentioned above, your mouth is the primary passageway to your system, and you should be mindful of what you put in it. It would be best if you also kept in mind to maintain good hygiene before eating food and to clean your hands with products like Dettol Hand Sanitizer even when you are on the go. Your toothbrush for that matter is a small thing that you use every day. Keeping the above habits in mind you can avoid significant infections and illnesses in the future. These little habits go a long way in helping you lead a healthy life and keep you away from illnesses and diseases.
