Ask a Family Dentist: Is it Bad to Share a Toothbrush? - Palm Beach Dentistry Delray Beach Florida (2024)

FAQs

Is it bad to share a toothbrush with family? ›

A person's mouth contains millions of bacteria and other dangerous microorganisms. Some of these can be transferred from person to person when a toothbrush is shared. Germs that cause herpes, the flu, colds and gum disease can be transferred when people share toothbrushes.

When you use someone else's toothbrush, you expose your teeth and gums to new bacteria which may not react well with your existing bacteria. This foreign bacteria can increase your risk of catching a cold, the flu, or other germs lurking on your partner's toothbrush, even if they practice good hygiene.

Using someone else's toothbrush introduces a new set of bacteria, increasing the risk of developing cavities. Even if we diligently clean our toothbrushes, they can still harbor bacteria. Placing toothbrush heads in close proximity to each other facilitates the indirect transfer of bacteria and germs.

Soak it in antibacterial mouthwash

If a hot water rinse isn't enough to give you peace of mind, you can soak your toothbrush in antibacterial mouthwash. Keep in mind that doing this may wear out your toothbrush faster, as these mouthwashes usually contain harsh ingredients that make bristles break down.

Streptococcus mutans – a harmful bacteria that is responsible for MRSA infections and tooth decay – can be found on toothbrushes, and could lead to severe illness. Even worse, when you share a toothbrush, the amount of bacteria found on it increases with every use, and you're more likely to pick up a harmful infection.

You can also disinfect your toothbrush by swishing it in an antibacterial mouthwash for 30 seconds. If you don't have mouthwash, you can use 2 teaspoons of baking soda mixed into 1 cup of water instead. Soaking your toothbrush in white vinegar once a week may also help disinfect it.

If you have gingivitis, you can expose others to that bacterium through kissing or sharing drinks, utensils, and toothbrushes. Exposure to gingivitis-causing bacteria doesn't mean that you're guaranteed to develop it — you're only at an increased risk if you already have poor dental health.

Tooth brushing is most common method of maintaining oral hygiene. In removing plaque and other soft debris from the teeth, tooth brushes become contaminated with bacteria, blood, saliva and oral debris. These contaminated tooth brushes can be a source of infection.

Only about 18% of people said they would share a toothbrush, while almost 83% said they would never share a toothbrush. Despite that, nearly 75% of couples are more than happy to tell their partner when their breath smells bad.

In other words, sharing a toothbrush can actually increase your chances of getting a cavity. Similarly, sharing a toothbrush can also carry other bacteria that you should avoid. Similarly, many people bleed when they brush their teeth.

Can you get cavities from kissing someone with bad oral hygiene? ›

If your partner has poor oral hygiene or a high level of cavity-causing bacteria in their mouth, kissing them can introduce these harmful bacteria into your mouth.

Tooth decay is caused by oral bacteria that not only thrive on the foods that we eat (and forget to brush and floss away), but can also spread by direct contact with the saliva of another person with an oral bacterial infection.

When you brush your teeth, some of the microbes attach to the bristles. Those microbes can survive in the bristles for weeks, meaning they can cause re-infection every time you put the toothbrush inside your mouth. You can use toothbrush sanitizers or antibacterial mouthwash to free your toothbrush from germs.

* You can't find your brush in the same place where you always put it after you brush. * There's another or a new toothbrush in the place where you always put yours. * There' still some toothpaste on it like your toothbrush isn't cleaned after brushing, which you always do. * Someone asked you to use your toothbrush.

Baking soda is a natural method to disinfect your toothbrush. Simply mix two teaspoons of baking soda into one cup of water and mix thoroughly. Soak your toothbrush in the solution for 15 minutes and then allow your toothbrush to air dry.

There is a reason you are encouraged to switch out your toothbrush every 3 months, and after serious illness – you don't want to re-catch something that has been living on your toothbrush. When you use someone else's toothbrush, you are exposing yourself to different germs that could make you really sick.

“There are lots of things we want to share with our partners, but a toothbrush shouldn't be one of them,” Nammy Patel, DDS, owner of Green Dentistry in San Francisco, tells SELF. That's because there are millions of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms inside our mouths.

You may generally share toothpaste and use dental floss from the same case with your sibling, significant other, roommate, etc. While this is usually okay, we remind you that you should stop this during cold and flu season or when one of the sharing parties is sick.