Should the Toothbrush be Replaced After an Illness?

After seasonal diseases like cold, fever or cough etc., there is a risk that the germs are not transferred from one person to another and for this, a lot of cleaning is done in the house. But should a person change his toothbrush after illness? Because it is possible that the toothbrush comes in direct contact with germs.

The short answer to this question is yes.

It is advised by medical experts to change the toothbrush after recovery from illness. Especially if you have had mouth ulcers, flu, sore throat or cold. Germs can survive in toothbrushes for 24 hours to several weeks, depending on the type of disease or type of bacteria. For example, the flu virus can live on a toothbrush for up to 3 days, but the risk of getting sick again after using a toothbrush after recovery is not very high. But still, it is better to be safe than sick. Experts have also mentioned some other points in this regard which are as follows.

Do not change toothbrushes during illness

According to experts, avoid changing your toothbrush when you are sick and do it only when you are well.

Do not use a toothbrush cap

Well, it sounds strange, but it is better to leave the toothbrushes of sick people in the open air. According to experts, most of the germs that live on the toothbrush are killed by oxygen. He said that when the toothbrush is completely dry, most of the bacteria present on it are eliminated. In contrast, using a toothbrush cap increases the number of bacteria.

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Disinfect if not to throw away

According to experts, if you don’t want to throw away the toothbrush, disinfect it. He said that for this purpose, you can soak the toothbrush in antibacterial mouthwash, and you can also use baking soda paste and vinegar. Experts have advised even healthy people to clean their toothbrush on a daily basis and wash it with lukewarm water.

Replace toothbrush every 3 months (sooner in case of illness)

According to experts, whether you are sick or not, toothbrushes should be replaced every 3 months as germs accumulate on them over time. Especially when the coloured fibres on the toothbrush become dull, this is a sign of replacement.