3 Tips to Keep Your Mouth Bacteria-Free
Whether you like it or not, bacteria and germs are all around us. Even though you can’t prevent yourself from breathing in airborne germs and bacteria every day, there are a few other ways that you can avoid having extra bacteria in your mouth. And because of a cold or other illness is the last thing that you want to get during the summer, we have a few tips to help you out.
Don’t Share Toothpaste
One of the quickest ways to spread germs and bacteria is to share toothpaste with people. If you think about it, when you touch the tip of the toothpaste tube against your toothbrush, and then you use that same tube on other people in your family, it will just spread germs from one person to the next. If you have it in your budget, try to get everyone their own tube of toothpaste; that way, germs only stay with the carrier and don’t spread to everyone else.
Watch Where You Put Your Toothbrush
Where do you keep your toothbrush? Are You the type of person who leaves it on the countertop after you brush? Do you have little kids who leave their toothbrush on the floor next to their toys? All of these places have dirt, germs, and bacteria that can hop on your toothbrush and make you sick or cause oral bacteria. Try to get into the habit of putting your toothbrush in a spot like a toothbrush holder after you use it every time. If you share a folder with other members of your family, make sure that your bristles don't touch.
Boil Your Toothbrush
We encourage patients to get a new toothbrush every three months on average or if your bristles start to wear down before then. To help you combat germs that are on your toothbrush, try soaking your toothbrush in boiling water. Or, you can even dip it in a pot of boiling water and boil it for a few minutes.
Use these basic tips to help avoid spreading bacteria and germs among your family members. Are you ready to schedule your next dental cleaning? Contact our Melville office today and call us at (631) 423-6767.
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