In order to have a beautiful smile you need to take care of your oral health, such as getting regular dental check-ups, brushing your teeth twice daily, limiting sugar intake, and of course, properly washing your toothbrush. The toothbrush holds all the bacteria and residue from your teeth, so it takes more than a cold-rinse to really sanitize the brush.
Our mouth contains over 700 species of bacteria, and while some are harmless, others can be dangerous, so when your teeth aren’t properly taken care of, it can cause problems like gum disease, tooth decay, cavities, and eventual tooth loss. Mouth bacteria — along with the high humidity of your bathroom — contributes to the bacteria found on toothbrushes.
Some ways to clean your toothbrush are running tap water over it until it’s completely clean and letting it air-dry, sinking the bristles in antibacterial mouthwash for 30 seconds, putting your toothbrush in boiling water for two to three minutes, and cleaning your toothbrush cover and container regularly. Products containing antimicrobial ingredients can disinfect your toothbrush, as can UV toothbrush sanitizers.