How do you sterilize a toothbrush?

1. Use your mouthwash on your bristles. The same rinse you use to keep your mouth extra clean can be used to disinfect your brush after using it! Allow the head of your toothbrush to soak in small cup of antibacterial mouthwash or rubbing alcohol for a few minutes before or after brushing.

Should you disinfect your toothbrush?

After brushing, rinse your toothbrush completely with tap water. You don’t need to use a disinfectant, mouthwash, or hot water to sanitize it. Trying to “sanitize” a toothbrush in this way can actually spread germs. You also don’t need a special closed container to keep your toothbrush clean when it’s not in use.

Does Listerine disinfect toothbrushes?

According to this 2011 study, soaking your toothbrush in either a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution or antiseptic mouthwash killed 100% of germs. Here’s how to disinfect your toothbrush in just four steps by using antiseptic mouthwash or hydrogen peroxide: Rinse the bristles thoroughly in water after brushing.

How do you disinfect an electric toothbrush?

First, Johnson recommends soaking the toothbrush head for 30 minutes in this DIY sanitizer: “ Mix a half cup of water, two tablespoons of white vinegar and two tablespoons of baking soda in a large bowl (make sure it’s big enough to accommodate the bubbling that results from mixing vinegar and baking soda).”

Why does my toothbrush smell like poop?

Poor oral hygiene can cause your breath to smell like poop. Failing to brush and floss your teeth properly and regularly can make your breath smell because plaque and bacteria accumulate on and between your teeth. Food that’s not removed by flossing stays between your teeth, causing your breath to smell unpleasant.

How do I disinfect my toothbrush after being sick?

However, after you are sick, my general recommendation is to replace your toothbrush. It’s an easy fix to make sure lingering bacteria doesn’t lead to reinfection or get passed on to family members. This makes a lot more sense than trying to clean your toothbrush by boiling it or by using hydrogen peroxide or vinegar.

What happens if you put someone’s toothbrush in the toilet?

“As you flush the toilet it, you expose your toothbrush to germs from the fecal matter.” MythBusters found toothbrushes sitting outside a bathroom can be speckled with fecal matter, too. In fact, toothbrushes right out of the box can harbor bacteria because they aren’t sold in sterile packaging.

Do UV toothbrush sanitizers work?

Studies published in several dental journals do indicate that UV sanitizers are effective at killing microorganisms and bacteria. Unfortunately, while they might reduce the amount of these organisms off of your brush, the UV lights that are designed specifically for toothbrushes won’t eliminate all of these germs.

How do you disinfect a toothbrush with vinegar?

Vinegar Soak. Using white distilled vinegar is one of the best ways to clean a toothbrush without using specialty cleaners. Place your toothbrush head down into a cup filled with white distilled vinegar and let it soak for at least eight hours. Rinse well.

Does hydrogen peroxide disinfect toothbrush?

toothbrush in a 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (H202) solution that is changed daily. Use enough solution to cover the bristles. This can keep your toothbrush disinfected. A quick way is to mix 1 teaspoonful of peroxide in 1 cup water and wish your toothbrush in it prior to use.

What mouthwash kills the most bacteria?

In fact, while brushing leaves bacteria behind, LISTERINE ZERO^® is the alcohol-free mouthwash proven to kill 99.9% of bad breath germs¹—making it an essential step in your patients’ daily oral care regimen.

Is it OK to rinse your mouth with rubbing alcohol?

A solution needs to be at least 60% alcohol in order to properly disinfect and kill viruses, but please, do NOT use rubbing alcohol as a mouthwash, as it can harm the soft tissues of the mouth, throat, and make someone extremely sick if ingested.

How do I stop my electric toothbrush from smelling?

Mix 1 part bleach with 10 parts water. Once a month, give your toothbrush a deep clean using bleach and water. Mix one part bleach with 10 parts water in a small container, like a cup.

What happens if you accidentally use someone else’s toothbrush?

If you do find that you’ve accidentally used another person’s toothbrush, don’t panic! Wash your mouth out with mouthwash (or water if mouthwash isn’t available) to help get rid of any bacteria you might have picked up.

How long can bacteria live on a toothbrush?

Even if the virus were still hanging out on your toothbrush after you recovered—colds and flus can survive there in an infective state for anywhere from a few hours to three days —those antibodies should keep you from contracting the same illness twice.