We all make this basic hygiene mistake with our toothbrushes

Cleaning your cosmetic accessories is essential to prevent bacteria from proliferating. However, all too often we neglect our toothbrushes, an object we use on a daily basis and which sits in our bathrooms. Alain Amzalag, dental surgeon and co-author of the book And If Your Dentist Could Save Your Life, gave us a few keys to avoid making this mistake we all make when it comes to our toothbrushes.

What is the mistake we all make with our toothbrushes?

We do the same things day after day, without putting too much thought into these habits. However, an essential part of a healthy oral routine is regularly neglected: cleaning your toothbrush! Did you think that running your toothbrush under water for a few seconds was enough? Wrong!

Alain Amzalag explains:

What you need to do is to clean [your toothbrush] regularly and for a long time with warm water and a little mouthwash. This provides minor but essential disinfection. This should be done several times a week but not necessarily every day. What products do I recommend? Mouthwash like Hextril or Listerine, available in any pharmacy. It is important to have a clean toothbrush at all times. Moreover, it is an effective way to fight against bacteria and it preserves our oral hygiene.

Don’t neglect the handle!

Properly cleaning the handle as well as the bristles (with hot water and mouthwash) of either an electric or manual toothbrush is essential, because it is not only the brush that ends up in one’s mouth when we brush our teeth... So no more dried traces of toothpaste: when cleaning, completely disinfect this oral health accessory which is used on a daily basis.

Why is cleaning your toothbrush important for your health?

Disinfecting your toothbrush is a key part of taking good care of your health. As Dr Amzalag reminds us in his book, not taking care of your oral hygiene promotes the growth of harmful bacteria in your body in the long term. He says:

A Finnish scientific study of 1,000 children over a period of 30 years showed that children with poor oral hygiene and untreated or poorly treated cavities were more likely to develop cardiovascular disease.

Oral hygiene is linked to one's health in general. So, as you will have understood, taking care of your toothbrush means increasing your chances of being in good health!