Toothbrush Sanitizer?

[paulyron]

Not sure if this is the correct subforum, but anyone use this?  Does it work?  Seems like a good way to sanitize your toothbrush?  There are many options on amazon but many have negative reviews?

[Needfuldoer]

Just swish it around in some mouthwash once in a while. That stuff's got plenty of alcohol in it.

[Lurking]

You can just use 12% hydrogen peroxide off Amazon to clean or disinfect. It basically oxidizes any organic material. 

 

I never had to clean a toothbrush. I just rinsed it after use and replace it once the Brussels are not straight anymore. Never thought of it being a problem or heard of anyone doing more 

[paulyron]

You mean just pour mouthwash into it and that's all?  That's all it takes to sanitize it?  You don't need to dip it in a plastic cup of mouthwash for a few minutes?

 

Is it same to use hydrogen peroxide on toothbrush though since you going to put that in your mouth?  I heard people say they use bleach to disinfect things and that doesn't see good idea especially if the thing is going in your mouth?  Like imagine disinfecting dishes with bleach or hydrogen peroxide?

[Godlygamer23]

Is it even necessary to specifically disinfect your toothbrush? Your mouth is already a cesspool of germs, and by the time you get around to brushing your teeth again, you'll have a lot of germs in it again. I've only ever rinsed my toothbrush off, and I feel like with your toothpaste sitting on the toothbrush, most germs are probably captured by the toothpaste, and anything that's remaining outside of it will be removed from the stream of water.

[Caroline]

I do the mouthwash thing and also boiling water. You're supposed to replace it every 16 weeks with daily use.

 

Built an UV sterilizer box out of a broken microwave and I guess I could use that as well, but it'll wear out anything plastic over time.

[Lurking]

12 hours ago, Caroline said:

I do the mouthwash thing and also boiling water. You're supposed to replace it every 16 weeks with daily use.

 

Built an UV sterilizer box out of a broken microwave and I guess I could use that as well, but it'll wear out anything plastic over time.

With brushing twice daily, I never managed to make a toothbrush head last that long. You are supposed to replace it when the bristles bend and are not straight anymore. 

 

I think the whole disinfecting is a waste and probably bad if you use chlorine. There are a million bettet ways to get an infection.

[Godlygamer23]

1 minute ago, Lurking said:

With brushing twice daily, I never managed to make a toothbrush head last that long. You are supposed to replace it when the bristles bend and are not straight anymore. 

 

I think the whole disinfecting is a waste and probably bad if you use chlorine. There are a million bettet ways to get an infection.

I think we're at a point where we are disinfecting and removing germs too much, such that our bodies immune systems are no longer getting a steady stream of germs to deal with, so that when we do encounter them, our bodies essentially overreact and we get even more sick than before.

 

I'm not saying 'don't wash your hands', or 'don't clean surfaces', but I think we go overboard. For individuals with autoimmune diseases, it's a different story, but for everyone else, you need germ exposure for a healthy immune system.

[Rocketdog2112]

22 hours ago, paulyron said:

I heard people say they use bleach to disinfect things and that doesn't see good idea especially if the thing is going in your mouth?  

Well... Since bleach is the same chemical makeup as chlorine, which is used to disinfect your drinking water, I'd say you're OK to dip your toothbrush in it.

 

Some water plants are known to use liquid bleach in their process systems.

 

Just don't place in the vicinity of the toilet...

https://studyfinds.org/toilet-flush-video-shows-water-spraying-into-air/

 

[Lurking]

9 hours ago, Godlygamer23 said:

I think we're at a point where we are disinfecting and removing germs too much, such that our bodies immune systems are no longer getting a steady stream of germs to deal with, so that when we do encounter them, our bodies essentially overreact and we get even more sick than before.

 

I'm not saying 'don't wash your hands', or 'don't clean surfaces', but I think we go overboard. For individuals with autoimmune diseases, it's a different story, but for everyone else, you need germ exposure for a healthy immune system.

Basically like the overuse of antibiotics.

 

We live in symbiosis with bacteria inside us and on our skin. They benefit us. We actually have more bacteria in us than our body had cells. Now we kill the "good" bacteria with all the disinfectants, which makes room for the actually dangerous bacteria and fungi. 

 

Normal hygiene with just warm water and soap products, or just rinsing in case of a brush, is perfectly sufficient.

[WiscoMetro]

 

22 hours ago, Godlygamer23 said:

Is it even necessary to specifically disinfect your toothbrush? Your mouth is already a cesspool of germs, and by the time you get around to brushing your teeth again, you'll have a lot of germs in it again.

On a normal basis I agree to not worry about disinfecting, but while I was traveling and staying at a friends house everyone got a stomach bug at one point over a two day period (involving puking in the bathroom) I had realized that fine droplets probably coated everything in the bathroom, so I soaked my toothbrush and swished my cup in rubbing alcohol. I must've lysed those germs as I was the only person out of 5 to dodge it.

 

Scientific method in action!