“While flu viruses may survive on toothbrushes for up to three days after first exposure, you don't have to throw out your toothbrush just because you've been sick.” Desai said as long as they're your own germs, you don't have to worry.
When you are exposed to an illness like the flu, your body creates antibodies that fight off the illness, making it highly unlikely that you'll get the same strain of the flu again. This means that even if your toothbrush is contaminated, it will not give you the flu again.
Use and Replace
In the event of illness such as cold or flu, a toothbrush should be replaced immediately following the illness, even if the brush was new. Germs and viruses can live on the toothbrush head for weeks and holding onto it after illness increases the reintroduction of that bacteria into your mouth.
You don't need to throw out your toothbrush and shouldn't try to disinfect it after you've been sick, but if you'd feel better doing so, there's no harm in getting a new one. In general, you should replace your toothbrush every three to four months or sooner if it looks worn out.
You can also disinfect your toothbrush by swishing it in an antibacterial mouthwash for 30 seconds. If you don't have mouthwash, you can use 2 teaspoons of baking soda mixed into 1 cup of water instead. Soaking your toothbrush in white vinegar once a week may also help disinfect it.
Some experts recommend having two toothbrushes and alternating while one dries. 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.
Should you change your toothbrush after being sick? Yes! Change your toothbrush or toothbrush head after you've had a cold, the flu, a mouth infection, or a sore throat.
“Flu viruses can survive on hard surfaces (like bus poles) and infect another person for 24 to 48 hours,” said Dr. Carey. “Cold viruses don't survive as long—usually a few hours. But there is evidence that they can survive and be passed on for up to 24 hours.”
“If you are having a cold that feels like it just doesn't quit, it is probably a different cold virus.” Charles Gerba, a professor of microbiology and environmental sciences at the University of Arizona, agreed. “It is hard to re-infect yourself,” he said.
Toothbrushes can harbor harmful bacteria, including fecal matter and flu virus. Disinfect your toothbrush regularly with hot water, mouthwash, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, or denture cleansers. Do not store your toothbrush near the toilet and avoid storing toothbrushes together.
Why is it so important for you to do this? It is because the herpes virus can stay in your toothbrush for many days after you see a cold sore pop up on your face. In order to get rid of this virus completely, you will need to throw away the old toothbrush and replace it with a new one.
You can spread the common cold from a few days before your symptoms appear until all of the symptoms are gone. Most people will be contagious for up to 2 weeks. Symptoms are usually worse during the first 2 to 3 days, and this is when you're most likely to spread the virus.
How Long Does It Take to Catch a Cold From Someone Else? Unlike the flu, where symptoms come on suddenly, colds take time to develop. Once you catch a cold from someone else, it can take two or three days before you begin to feel symptoms. If someone you know has a cold, try to avoid or limit contact with them.
A lack of sleep, poor diet, anxiety, or stress can often cause a person to feel sick. These factors can make a person more susceptible to infection and illness. However, always feeling sick can also signify pregnancy or chronic illness. When sick, a person may experience stomach discomfort and vomiting.
Mix hot water and vinegar for the best results. Hydrogen peroxide, another common household item, can also be used to kill bacteria and viruses. It should be used the same way as bleach- mixed with water and then wiped down. Be careful with H2O2 as it can also stain clothes and porous counters.
The flu virus can live on clothing like gloves and scarves for two or three days, while diarrhea-causing viruses, such as rotavirus and norovirus, may thrive for as many as four weeks.
Fever—Fevers fight influenza viruses. Because viruses are sensitive to temperature changes and cannot survive above normal body heat, your body uses fever to help destroy them. Muscle Aches and Pain—You may experience sore muscles with the flu as it is also a product of your body's immune response.
Infectiousness usually begins to decrease after day 5, but this doesn't mean you can't spread the virus beginning on day 6. This is why it is SO important to wear a mask through day 10. Everyone's immune response is different, and we can spread the virus for different amounts of time.
If symptoms get worse instead of better after 3 days or so, the problem could be strep throat, sinusitis, pneumonia, or bronchitis, especially if your child smokes.
People with flu can spread it to others. Most experts think that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze, or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby (usually within about 6 feet away) or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
The stages of a cold include the incubation period, appearance of symptoms, remission, and recovery. The common cold is a mild upper respiratory infection caused by viruses.
Colds are usually milder than flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose than people who have flu. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations. Flu can have serious associated complications .
Are Colds Contagious? Colds are the most common infectious disease in the United States. They're very contagious, especially in the first 2–4 days after symptoms start. They can even spread for a couple of weeks after someone starts feeling sick.
Soak your toothbrush in the mouthwash for about 5 minutes, then rinse it thoroughly in hot water and let it dry. Another way to sanitize your toothbrush is to soak it in a cup of hydrogen peroxide for 5 minutes, and rinse thoroughly in hot water. You can also boil your toothbrush in hot water for 3 minutes.
Cold sores are contagious from the moment you feel that first tingling until the scar completely disappears, a process that usually takes about 15 days. The Mayo Clinic notes that cold sores are most contagious when oozing blisters are present, but you can still transmit the virus even if there is no active sore.