Dental/Toothbrush Care for the New Year

Many people start the New Year with lists of things they are going to do and accomplish throughout the year.

People start the year out with health goals, relationship resolutions, plans for kicking bad habits and everything in between. However, when it comes to dental care the New Year’s list is usually devoid of any goals.

Dental care is an important part of ones hygienic process, of course everyone knows and has been told over and over again to take care of his or her teeth.

Dentists and other dental professionals have been telling people  for years to brush at least twice a day (preferably after every meal), to floss regularly, to rinse, to use mouthwash, to clean one’s gums, to brush one’s tongue, to avoid sticky/chewy foods, to get braces, not to grind one’s teeth and to keep one’s mouth clean overall.

But what about keeping ones toothbrush clean?

Not many people remember to keep their toothbrushes clean because they are so worried about using those toothbrushes in order to do all of the other things recommended by dentists, like brushing.

But keeping a current and clean toothbrush is just as, if not more, important as the actual act of brushing. Look at it this way, if your brush isn’t clean, how can it make anything else clean?

Rinsing one’s toothbrush after every use is one important aspect of keeping a toothbrush clean. A few other suggestions on how to keep ones toothbrush clean are:

• Store the toothbrush upright when it is not in use.
• Toothbrush sanitizers (can usually get rid of up to 99.9% of bacteria).
• Zap the toothbrush with ultraviolet light. (This is the most effective way to clean one’s toothbrush.)

The above mentioned cleaning methods are all good for keeping ones toothbrush clean and effective. Clean teeth do not come from dirty and old toothbrushes. Some people have suggested dipping brushes in boiling water in order to clean them.

Boiling water is affective in cleaning a toothbrush, but it will leave you with an ineffective brush after it is done being cleaned.

2013 is almost upon us, the New Year will bring many new and exciting challenges and changes. Make dental hygiene and toothbrush cleanliness a part of your New Year’s Resolutions.

David Maisey, who founded Toothbrush Nanny, loves to write about dental hygiene.