Spring is in the air and unlike the musical princesses that haunt our dreams, we do not have cute little fuzzy animals to help us clean up and rearrange the mess that has magically appeared over the winter. So for most parents, “spring is in the air” translates directly into “it’s time for spring cleaning”.
As we are scrubbing our living rooms, kitchens and bathrooms we need to keep in mind that our mouths, and the tools we use to clean them, need to be kept clean all year round. Keeping your toothbrush clean goes far beyond rinsing it off with hot water after each use.
Your toothbrush should be kept at least six feet from the toilet; any closer would give a whole new meaning to the term “potty mouth”.
If any of you are like me, remembering to replace your toothbrush (although extremely important) can take a backseat to all the other things we need to remember. We use our toothbrushes at least twice a day and, like all things we use on a daily basis, they began to wear down. When bristles break down they become less effective and can damage gum tissue. Broken bristles are also a breeding ground for bacteria and germs.
If your little one, or you for that matter, gets sick there are some precautionary steps you can take to prevent others around you from catching it. After an illness you should replace your toothbrush.
What if you’re on a tight budget and just replaced your toothbrush? Though a few bucks won’t break the bank for some, in this economy many people simply cannot afford to stray even a little from their budget. If this is the case, you can soak your toothbrush in mouthwash for 20 minutes to kill the germs that set up shop on your toothbrush during your illness.
But that’s not all; germs from your toothbrush can also pass onto the edges of a toothpaste tube. If you or your little one is sick, you should put toothpaste on a clean finger and then onto your toothbrush. This will help prevent spreading your sickness to others.
So, as the weather gets warmer and spring is upon us, do not forget how important it is to keep your mouth clean!