Keep Your Mouth Tools Tidy

By Jill Feilmeier on June 26, 2012 in Dental Health

This summer when your kids are home, you will more than likely be cleaning your house more often than you do when school is in session. Children have a hard time grasping the importance of keeping clean. I'm not only talking about their rooms, but their mouths as well.

The tools we use to clean our mouths need to be kept clean all year round. Keeping your toothbrush clean goes far beyond rinsing it off with hot water after each use.

There is one very good way to keep your toothbrush clean! It should be kept at least six feet from the toilet; any closer would give a whole new meaning to the term “potty mouth”.

Replacing your toothbrush is also vital. 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. It is recommended that you replace your toothbrush every 3 months.

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. Don't fret if you are on a tight budget! 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, over the summer as your children are wreaking havoc on your house, do not forget how important it is to keep your mouth tools tidy!