Your toothbrush harbors over 100 million bacteria. 
Two sources of cross-contamination are:
- Your toilet
- Someone else’s toothbrush.
Of course, there’s no way to keep your toothbrush 100% bacteria-free. After all, your mouth naturally contains bacteria. It’s the cross-contamination that comes from outside sources that pose the biggest risk to your dental health.
So, what can you do to reduce your risk?
- Close the toilet lid when you flush.
- After an illness, discard your toothbrush and start with a fresh one.
- Boil your toothbrush for about five minutes, which will kill most bacteria, however it can wear out your toothbrush faster.
- Put your toothbrush in the dishwasher and use dish washing soap with bleach. The high heat in the washer, along with the heavy duty soap, will thoroughly clean your toothbrush.
- Soak your toothbrush in 3 percent hydrogen peroxide and 97 percent water at least once a week.
Schedule your hygiene appointment at Aesthetic Dentistry by Design by calling 719-599-0700.