The ADA recommends that you dry the head of a toothbrush with a clean cloth or paper towel by gently squeezing the brush. This will allow you to force out the moisture without breaking or damaging the bristles.
You want your toothbrush to air dry to get rid of any bacteria that are killed by the air. Keeping it upright will help it to drain and dry more quickly. Always make sure to air dry your toothbrush before packing it for a vacation.
Let it air-dry. Rather than placing your toothbrush head in a contained holder, be sure to let it air dry first. Storing a wet toothbrush in a container allows bacteria to grow on your toothbrush. Keep away from the toilet.
It is also advisable to keep it in a dry environment and not to store it in special toothbrush cases or bristle protectors, if the toothbrush is wet, remember that moisture is a breeding ground for fungi and bacteria.
You can let your toothbrush sit in the open air for 30 minutes, then check that the bristles are dry before you put it away. You can use a clean paper towel to quickly dry a toothbrush before storing it in an airtight container, if you want.
You might have seen a flood of Twitter chatter sparked by a tweet reading, “Do ya'll wet the toothbrush first, or put toothpaste on first?” The response online was mixed, but our answer is pretty simple: Wetting your toothbrush is more a matter of preference and doesn't significantly change the success of brushing.
The cosmetic dentist explained to The Sun: "If you wet the toothbrush before you put the toothpaste on, you're diluting it. "Toothpaste already has the right amount of moisture. If it's wet, it makes it foam up faster and makes you spit it out sooner."
Viruses and bacteria from an infected person's mouth can live for weeks on a toothbrush surface, and continue to cause illness, says Cooper, a clinical associate professor at the University of Florida College of Dentistry.
You'll want to soak your toothbrush in the solution for at least 3 to 5 minutes at a time. After the specified amount of time, make sure you rinse your toothbrush thoroughly before use. Avoid soaking your toothbrush overnight; otherwise, you run the risk of damaging the bristles.
Wetting before softens toothbrush bristles and rinses off debris. Wetting after ensures the toothpaste melts into your toothbrush so it doesn't roll off. Not wetting your toothbrush means there aren't extra steps between applying toothpaste and brushing.
The correct way to care for your toothbrush after brushing is to rinse it well so that all residue comes off, give it a good shake to remove excess water, and then store it upright in a cup or holder so that it's not touching any other toothbrushes.
Your mouth is home to millions of bacteria so cleaning your toothbrush makes sense if you want to prevent illness. You should be cleaning your toothbrush every week and it is also wise to keep a supply of new toothbrushes on hand so you can readily replace the old one every three months.
Don't rinse your mouth immediately after brushing, as it'll wash away the concentrated fluoride in the remaining toothpaste. Rinsing dilutes it and reduces its preventative effects.
You should never store your brush in a closed or airtight container, as bacteria love moisture and will thrive in this environment. Instead, place the brush in a cup or holder in an upright position to ensure that it dries off thoroughly. Avoid putting it in a drawer or cabinet, as well.
Swirling the toothbrush head in an antibacterial mouthwash for 30 seconds. Dunking the bristles into a cup of water that has two teaspoons of baking soda dissolved into it. Soaking the toothbrush in vinegar overnight once a week.
The best solution is to keep your toothbrush in a corner of your bathroom away from the sink & toilet. If you're strapped for space, you can get a wall-mounted toothbrush holder to place high enough to avoid any splashing from the sink.
Unfortunately, when you rinse immediately after brushing, you're washing away a lot of the fluoride in toothpaste before it can strengthen your tooth enamel. To maximize the beneficial cavity-fighting effect of fluoride, spit out excess toothpaste but do not rinse your mouth.
Unlike popular belief, using toothpaste is not mandatory while brushing our teeth. Brushing our teeth with a paste makes our mouth feel fresh and clean, but toothpaste is, in fact, an avoidable step. The greatest threat to our teeth and gums is dental plaque that accumulates after eating food and drinking liquids.
Dentists say it's good to let the fluoridated toothpaste set in your teeth for a few minutes regardless if you do decide you want to rinse with water or not. While rinsing doesn't harm you, it prevents the toothpaste from working to its best ability.
One expert, professor Damien Walmsley of the British Dental Association, said, “A dry brush will increase friction with the bristles while a wet toothbrush adds moisture and for most people, makes the experience more pleasant.
Stagnant air won't help the brush dry out quickly, and time is of the essence with mold's ability to begin growing in as little as 24 hours. Every bathroom is different, so take a look around to see what area would make a perfect toothbrush home.
While over-brushing can be a very real issue, it has more to do with your brushing technique rather than the number of times you brush per day. Brushing three times a day is perfectly fine as long as you brush gently and carefully, avoiding the issues mentioned above!
Your biggest mistake is that you keep your toothbrush in the bathroom. Water splashes all around when you flush the toilet, including on your toothbrush. So you really need to keep your toothbrush away from the toilet, so that bacterial infection doesn't reach you this way.