Have you ever considered just how dirty your toothbrush holder might be? What about your bathroom hand towel? With germs and bacteria floating through the air and contaminating surfaces and objects of all kinds, it might seem like a hopeless situation. However, you can be proactive in better maintaining these items around your home, especially if you want a healthier smile. Here are three things you should clean regularly to avoid poor oral health.
Toothbrush Holder
It may not seem like a particularly “filthy” area, but the reality is that your toothbrush holder contains enough germs to be considered one of the dirtiest items in your home. From Salmonella and E.Coli to mold, yeast, and staph aureus, you can potentially infect yourself with any of these bacteria, causing sickness and deteriorating oral health. If you want to avoid this type of problem, you should remember to never share your toothbrush with other individuals in your home. You should also clean your holder at least once a week. Using an antibacterial mouthwash to let it soak in before rinsing it out with clean water can help eliminate bacteria and keep your holder fresh and clean.
Bathroom Hand Towel
The bathroom hand towel is used for a number of tasks. From drying your hands after using the restroom or your face after washing it before bed, or wiping your mouth after brushing your teeth, it sees a lot of germs. What you may not realize is that germs passed from your hands and face now live on the towel. When drying your mouth after brushing, those same germs can easily transfer into your oral cavity, causing your risk for an infection to rise. You need to make sure you’re washing your towels regularly to keep harmful particles from being passed from one person to the next.
A Toothbrush
Your toothbrush holder and hand towel are not the only items in your bathroom that require frequent cleaning. Your toothbrush does as well. Because its job is to clean inside your oral cavity, it is exposed to all types of germs and bacteria. If you want to make sure your teeth and gums remain decay and damage-free, you’ll need to clean your toothbrush. You can do this by switching out your brush every three months for a new one (or changing out the brush head if you use an electric) or soaking your brush in antibacterial mouthwash before rinsing it.
Bacteria and germs are everywhere, which is why you must be diligent with your washing and drying routine to minimize your family’s risk of serious oral health problems.
About the Practice
At Long Family Dental, our team of dental experts has been caring for the residents of Midlothian for more than 40 years. A family-owned business, Dr. Robert Long and Dr. Chris Long are carrying on the work of their father, Dr. Henry Long, who originally established the practice. Joined by Dr. Wes Fichera, the three work closely together to help improve, repair, and restore the smiles of those in need. Proponents of preventive care, they offer helpful tips to safeguard smiles between appointments. Whether it is through better oral health or proper cleaning techniques, you can get the assistance you need. Visit our website to learn more today.