Dentist shares grim reality of how dirty your toothbrush really is

28 October 2023 , 14:50

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A health expert revealed how to wash your toothbrush properly (Image: Getty Images)

Toothbrushes can harbour bacteria so it's important people give the object a thorough clean at least once a week. It's recommended that you throw out your old brush every three months since a toothbrush can become less effective because the bristles begin to wear down.

One dentist has revealed just how dirty your toothbrush can become in just a matter of hours - and how you can avoid letting it get mouldy. Health Expert Dr Ellie Phillips is a health expert took to her TikTok page, with 201,000 followers, to reveal just how grim our brushes can get. The Austin, Texas-based dentist advises people to dry their toothbrushes directly after cleaning the product and to use it again after 24 hours.

In a clip, Ellie shared her tip and said: "Here's what I want you to do with your toothbrush every day to help you have the best oral health possible," she said at the beginning of the clip. "Toothbrushes get really dirty, especially when they're close to a toilet, in a damp climate where there is humidity, in your shower, in your bathroom, and humidity is the worst thing for growing moulds."

She shared that humidity allowed 'harmful bacteria' to grow inside the bristles - and revealed that there was no way you could possibly wash the bristles well enough, even if you boiled them in hot water. "Get your toothbrush, put it somewhere - in a cup or... I recommend on my website little ceramic doughnuts that hold your toothbrush so that it can air dry, and has plenty of air.

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"If your bathroom is always being used by other people, or it's always damp, certainly don't leave your toothbrush in your shower, take it somewhere [else]. Put it in your bedroom, put it in your kitchen, in the window where it can dry in the sunshine and use one toothbrush in the morning and a different toothbrush in the evening so that it has 24 hours before you're going to use it again," she explained.

Viewers praised the dentist for helping them learn how to clean their toothbrushes. One person said: "I put it in a cup to air dry." Another person added: "This is very good information, thanks for sharing." A third person said: "Amazing! Thanks for sharing these tips," another user commented. "Thank you so much," a fourth person gushed.

Ayaan Ali