A study conducted by the British Dental Health Foundation recently found that two-thirds of the participants in the study would lend their toothbrush to a friend, parent, child or even a celebrity. These overly generous toothbrush-sharing people might think that they are doing someone a favor, but in actuality they could be spreading bacteria and harmful organisms that can live on the toothbrush and cause oral and dental health issues.
Any dentist is likely to warn you against sharing your toothbrush, or borrowing someone else’s toothbrush. You might not know the other person’s oral health and hygiene, and could be putting yourself at risk. Toothbrushes are basically breeding grounds for bacteria on their own, so introducing someone else’s bacteria into the mix can only produce harmful effects.
In addition to not sharing your toothbrush, you should also be sure to swap out your manual toothbrush or electric toothbrush head at minimum every three months. The same study by the British Dental Health Foundation found that about 60% of the population failed to replace their toothbrushes after three months. The more often you replace your toothbrush, the less likely you are to have the brush collect excess bacteria and harmful organisms. Bathrooms make an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive with the moisture content and often warm temperatures.
So the lessons learned from this study? Swap out your toothbrush often, and no matter how badly your friend needs to borrow your toothbrush for just one use, you’re better off making a quick trip to the store to get him or her their own brush.