8 Mistakes we made to keep and store the toothbrush

How much time do you change your toothbrush? Is it correct to store the brush on top of the sink without protecting the bristles? These and other questions may arise when it comes to preserving and storing the object. And you can bet: some of the problems that experts have pointed out may never have crossed your mind.

In order to understand the best way to store and conserve toothbrushes without putting health at risk, we interview the dentist Paulo Afonso Francisconi ( CRO-SP 25506), a dental doctor and professor of dental materials at the School of Dentistry of the University of São Paulo (USP), and the dentist Sara Nader Marta (CRO-SP 22207), a doctorate in odontopediatrics at the School of Dentistry at USP.

Stay alert and make sure you do not make the following errors:

Save the family brushes together

The dentist Paulo Afonso Francisconi explains that the practicality of leaving the objects of all family members in one place , mixed, can be a trap: "Most people usually keep the brushes of the whole family together. This is not indicated since one object can contaminate the other."

Share the same brush

By same reason you should not keep all the brushes together, they also can not be shared between two people or more. The shared use of this object may favor the transmission of infectious diseases.

Leave the brush on top of the sink in the bathroom

"You should not leave the brush in the bathroom because it is the most contaminated place in the house." Scientific research has already confirmed that the toothbrush may contain fecal coliforms, because people often leave it on the bathroom sink, without protecting the bristles, "says Paulo Afonso.

To save the brush, according to the specialist, the best place is out of the bathroom. If this is not possible, the brush should be kept in a closed cabinet, preferably away from the toilet, always in the upright position and with a bristle guard that has ventilation holes.

To sanitize incorrectly

How to brush is constantly in contact with water during brushing, many people may forget that it also needs to be washed and sanitized.

"The brush should be washed with running water, then shaken well to remove excess water and never dry with the towel, which can also be contaminated.In addition, the ideal is to clean it every day with antiseptic buccal, "recommends Paulo Afonso.

Do not change frequently

The ideal, according to Paulo Afonso, is to change the brush every three months or when the bristles are damaged. He points out, however, that many people change the object before that time, but the motive ends up being another mistake: "It is recommended to change the toothbrush every three months, but many believe that brushing involves force, which ends up spoiling the bristles before this period ".

Remember that good brushing does not occur through the force placed on the brush and, rather, with gentle and short movements, always paying attention to the gingival margin and to teeth and areas harder to reach.

Dirty hands while brushing

Do you wash your hands before brushing your teeth? If you have never noticed this detail, be aware that the doctor of pediatric dentistry Sara Nader Marta teaches that everyone should wash their hands before brushing their teeth, as the first step to correct oral hygiene.

Leave the toilet unplugged when giving discharge

Another important care, according to the specialist, is to close the lid of the toilet when discharge. This is again because of fecal coliform cultures already found on brushes that are stored in the bathroom sink without protection.

Do not change the brush after illness and hospitalization

An essential care recommended by the dentist, both for children and adults, is to "change the brush whenever there is any type of infection or hospitalization because the brush may be contaminated with fungi and The exchange should occur even if the object is new and underutilized. "

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