5 Ways to Kill Bacteria on Your Toothbrush

Every day you scrub your teeth with a toothbrush. You remove plaque and bacteria on every edge and surface of your teeth and tongue. As you brush your teeth twice a day and remove all of that plaque, your toothbrush is building germs and residue from your own mouth. So it's very important to know how to clean toothbrush properly. 

Many of us love to place our toothbrush in the bathroom for convenience. But we also know that the bathroom is the space in your home that has the most bacteria lingering in the air. The toothbrush you place in the holder is openly exposed by all kinds of bacteria. Don’t make the mistake of ignoring the mildew that your toothbrush cap and bristles have built.

How Microbes Transfer from Your Teeth to Your Toothbrush

According to studies, once a toothbrush starts to scrub the surfaces of your teeth, it starts to settle bacteria. The longer you are using your toothbrush without disinfection, the higher is the risk of accumulating potential harmful microorganisms. Moreover, we do not consider that the toothpaste tube itself is a carrier of potential contamination. The moment of squeezing the toothpaste tube to the bristles, the likelihood of cross-contamination is high due to the sharing of toothpaste tubes with others in your home. According to claims from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the toothbrush you use has the potential of harboring harmful pathogenic organisms. Even if you rinse the toothbrush in running water, still harmful pathogens will potentially build up. This even happens because the bristles itself comes in contact with blood, saliva, food residue, and toothpaste itself.

“Everybody has almost all the microbes in their mouth.” Dr. Robert Palmer, NHI

Our mouth is a breeding ground for a variety of organisms. According to a study from the National Institute of Health (NIH), our mouth is carrying roughly 700 classifications of bacteria, fungi, and microbes. Not all bacteria in our bodies is harmful, and even some are designed to protect our system. However, as our mouth receives different elements and external bacteria from the food we eat and what we drink, microorganisms can react and likely form different kinds of pathogens that can lead to illness and damage to our teeth.

How Do You Kill Bacteria on A Toothbrush?

We have listed some Do-It-Yourself techniques in killing the germs in your toothbrush.

Use mouthwash to sanitize your toothbrush

You can simply soak the toothbrush bristles in a solution of mouthwash (i.e., Listerine). Just a little warning that the mouthwash solution can damage your bristles if you oversoak. Soaking must not exceed more than 15 minutes. Also, do not gargle the same liquid where you soak the toothbrush because you will be bringing all those bacteria that are still active in the solution. Those bacteria are likely to become toxic and dangerous in the solution.

Use Vinegar plus baking soda

Mix together white vinegar, baking soda, and water and soak the toothbrush for 20-30 minutes and rinse. It is a proven fact that white vinegar is an effective solution in killing various kinds of microorganisms that are found in the toothbrush. Use the following recipe:

1. ½ cup of water
2. 2 tablespoons of white vinegar
3. Dash of baking soda

Use Hydrogen Peroxide

The use of Hydrogen peroxide is safe when it comes to cleaning and disinfection. Place your toothbrush in a small cup of hydrogen peroxide every time you finish brushing your teeth. The downside is that it will easily wear out your bristles. If you love to use expensive toothbrushes, this technique might not work for you.

Use Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl)

Hypochlorous Acid is a non-toxic and all-natural potent oxidizer with a neutral pH that can eliminate bacteria and germs. It has no toxic ingredients so it does not react to any elements and cause harm to your teeth. You can drop a few ULV500 solution in a small cup and soak and wash the toothbrush for at least 5 minutes. You can do this every time you finish brushing your teeth. It does not damage your bristles.

Buy a UV toothbrush sanitizer

A more expensive solution is to purchase a UV toothbrush sanitizing device. The price range is between $20 to $60, depending on the brand and features. It uses ultraviolet light to sterilize the bristles. A study confirms that the use of ultraviolet light can reduce the number of colonies (86%) formed by the bacteria.

Oops! Do Not Forget Our Toothbrush Storage Tips

You may have soaked your toothbrush correctly, but when you place it back on the toothbrush rack, drawer or medicine cabinet, different microbes are waiting to jump in and grow in your toothbrush. Therefore it is vital that you do regular and consistent disinfection of toothbrush storage. We recommend the use of Petra ULV500 Hypochlorous Acid for safe, fast, and reliable elimination of various types of bacteria.