Toothbrush Care

Thanks to “Teri” who left a comment about toothbrush care and a reference to the link below. 
I don’t know Teri. He is from http://www.prepastedtoothbrushes.com which seems to offer a good product for germaphobes. I hope he doesn’t mind me using some of his pictures.  Teri said “Never leave your toothbrush out in the open in bathrooms as fecal matter floats through the air every time the toilet is flushed and lands on everything in an 8 foot radius as proved on the tv program “Mythbusters”. Best to use Prepasted, disposble toothbrushes when traveling and keep your own toothbrush in your medicine chest. Also the ADA recommends using disposable toothbrushes as the wet bristles harbor germs and provide a perfect breeding ground.”

Click here to see the ADA (American Dental Association) statement on toothbrush care.

From the article  “In recent years, scientists have studied whether toothbrushes may harbor microorganisms that could cause oral and/or systemic infection1, 2, 3, 4. We know that the oral cavity is home to hundreds of different types of microorganisms5, therefore, it is not surprising that some of these microorganisms are transferred to a toothbrush during use. It may also be possible for microorganisms that are present in the environment where the toothbrush is stored to establish themselves on the brush. Toothbrushes may even have bacteria on them right out of the box4 since they are not required to be sold in a sterile package.

The human body is constantly exposed to potentially harmful microbes. However, the body is normally able defend itself against infections through a combination of passive and active mechanisms. Intact skin and mucous membranes function as a passive barrier to bacteria and other organisms. When these barriers are challenged or breached, active mechanisms such as enzymes, digestive acids, tears, white blood cells and antibodies come into play to protect the body from disease.

Although studies have shown that various microorganisms can grow on toothbrushes after use, and other studies have examined various methods to reduce the level of these bacteria, there is insufficient clinical evidence to support that bacterial growth on toothbrushes will lead to specific adverse oral or systemic health effects.”

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