After our last post, you may wonder how to store your toothbrush safely. Here are some tips you may want to practice.

1) Make sure to rinse your toothbrush well after brushing your teeth. Before putting your toothbrush away, please give it a good rinse with tap water, making sure not to leave any toothpaste or debris in the brush

2) Put your toothbrush upright, in a cup or a holder, allowing the water to drain away from the head of the brush. You want the toothbrush to air dry thoroughly. So make sure it has access to good air circulation and is not suffocating in a small drawer or cabinet when not in use

3) Keep your toothbrush away from other people’s toothbrushes. Even if you are all family members, do not let your toothbrush touch another toothbrush. Bacteria on one brush can cross-contaminate another.

4) Avoid keeping your toothbrush too close to the toilet and sink. In tip two, we tell you to keep your toothbrush out in the open to air dry thoroughly. However, you must ensure it is not too close to the sink. You do not want it to be splashed with dirty or soapy water when family members wash their hands. Likewise, keep the brush at least four feet away from the toilet. If you have a small bathroom that does not let you keep this distance, store your toothbrush in a different room away from your bathroom

5) Sanitize or Not. Although you can buy toothbrush sanitizers (usually a small countertop device), there is no evidence that these make a difference to your health. They can, however, provide you with a safe zone for storing your brush. Also, no study has shown that soaking your brush in an antibacterial mouth rinse makes a difference.