Expert explained how to properly store a toothbrush

How to properly store a toothbrush and why it's important, as BAKU.WS reports, TROUVER electric toothbrush product manager Li Shenghan told Gazeta.Ru.

According to him, a recent study by scientists from Northwestern University (USA), published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiomes, shows how rich and diverse the microbial ecosystem on an ordinary toothbrush can be.

"As part of a large-scale project called 'Operation Pottymouth,' researchers collected samples from 34 toothbrushes from homes within a 160-kilometer radius of Chicago. The researchers used a modern DNA analysis method that simultaneously 'reads' the genetic traces of all microbes in the sample - bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. This allowed them to detect 614 unique viral sequences on toothbrushes. Of these, 314 were found in only one sample, and no virus was detected on all brushes simultaneously. This means that each toothbrush represents a 'microbial island' with its own, almost unique viral and bacterial flora," he said.

However, this is not about 600 types of viruses in the classical sense, but about 614 genetically distinguishable viral sequences, most of which belong to bacteriophages - viruses that exclusively affect bacteria and are incapable of infecting humans.

"Nevertheless, toothbrush storage conditions directly affect the composition and activity of this microbial environment. A damp, warm, and poorly ventilated bathroom is an ideal environment for the proliferation of not only viruses but also bacteria. Studies show that representatives of the genera Streptococcus, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and other microorganisms associated with infections of the oral cavity, respiratory tract, and even the gastrointestinal tract are found on brushes.

Especially alarming is the fact that when flushing the toilet, an aerosol rises into the air containing up to 100,000 microbial particles that can settle on nearby surfaces - including toothbrushes. According to the Daily Mail, this mechanism was the starting point for the 'Operation Pottymouth' study," he added.

That is why proper brush storage is crucial. As Shenghan noted, the key role is played not so much by sterility as by moisture control and isolation from sources of contamination.

"Store your toothbrush vertically, bristles up, in an open holder - this allows water to drain freely and the bristles to dry faster. Placing it in an airtight case immediately after brushing is not recommended: this creates an enclosed damp space in which microbes multiply particularly actively. It is especially important to ensure that the brushes of different family members do not touch - this helps avoid cross-contamination and reduces the risk of infection transmission," the expert recommended.

The toothbrush holder should be washed at least once a week - warm water with soap or a vinegar solution is sufficient. The brush itself should be replaced every 2-3 months, and also necessarily after any illness.

"Excessive use of powerful antiseptics does not bring benefits and can lead to microorganisms becoming resistant to such agents. It is better to rely on simple but regular hygienic habits - they are much more reliable in everyday protection," Li added.

The expert also draws attention to the brush material and its design.

"Choose models with a smooth handle without threaded connections, recesses, or porous coatings - such surfaces are more difficult to clean and dirt accumulates faster on them. This is especially relevant for electric brushes: the removable head should be firmly fixed, but at the same time easy to remove for washing the base," explained Shenghan.