I’m a dental hygienist — why you should share a toothbrush with your family (2024)
Sharing is caring, according to this dental hygienist.
Jess Potter, a dental hygienist who starred on the UK version of the reality show “Married at First Sight,” took to TikTok to make a case as to why you should be sharing a toothbrush with your entire family.
“Do you know that you can share a toothbrush to save money?” Potter said at the beginning of the 51-second clip, which has already reached 44,000 views on the social media app.
She explained that this is something she tells a lot of her patients to do.
“I always recommend getting an electric toothbrush, but I know at the moment with everything that’s going on, it’s a struggle with money,” the hygienist said.
Potter then advised that you can share one toothbrush with your family — but not the regular kind.
“That means with an electric toothbrush,” she explained. “You can have one handle, and multiple heads. You can have one each and just interchange them.”
“I have had many conversations with patients over the years who cannot afford multiple brushes,” Potter told The Post. “They just cannot afford this. I just thought this would be an amazing way to ‘share a toothbrush’ without actually doing so.”
“I do also always say that any electric toothbrush purchased should never be at full price as, it’s always half price somewhere,” she said. “Oral B Pro 3 is the best toothbrush that has a brilliant clean, along with a pressure sensor to prevent damage, at the cheapest price.”
The brush is also the most effective, Potter noted.
“Pressure sensors are key in preventing overbrushing which is known as recession. This is where the gum looks like it has traveled down the tooth, exposing the root, which causes sensitivity and is exposing a vulnerable part of the tooth.”
In the comments section of her TikTok post, many people admitted that they had been doing the same thing with their families for years.
“I do this, I can’t afford to buy 4 electric toothbrushes, so we all have our own heads with a different colored band at the bottom,” one user shared.
Another agreed, writing, “My family have been doing this the past 20 years.”
“We do this in my house thought that was normal,” someone else typed.
However, some couldn’t believe the dental hygienist’s suggestion.
“No just no,” one viewer commented. “My ocd just can’t never going to happen.”
A second user wrote, “I mentioned that to my dentist and she said that I’m disgusting!”
This isn’t the first time a dental expert has given out some serious advice about brushing your teeth. One dentist from London advised not to brush your teeth immediately after eating breakfast, citing that it will “weaken” your teeth.
“The precious enamel that coats the teeth is temporarily weakened after eating due to the acids present in food, so by brushing right after you eat, you risk damaging it,” said Dr. Richard Marques.
There’s also some good news when it comes to brushing. According to a handful of 2019 studies, having good oral health could “stall” your risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
SHARING a toothbrush is something that most people think is pretty unhygienic. But one dental hygienist has revealed how you can do this and that it can also save you money. Jessica O'Connor said that a whole family can have one electric toothbrush, with each member changing the head.
The reality is, couples spread bacteria in many ways, from kissing and holding hands to sharing food and drinks. While this is totally normal behaviour, the risks of spreading bacteria can be minimised by regularly washing your hands, using mouthwash, and not sharing a toothbrush.
Even for those who practice proper oral hygiene, sharing a toothbrush is never a good idea. While sharing may seem like a simple solution, you should always make sure that you're using your own toothbrush or a new one.
Any viruses in the blood can be transferred to the brush, and they can live there for extended periods. When another person uses that same brush, these microbes are introduced into their bloodstream, especially if that person also bleeds while brushing.
When viruses and bacteria from your mouth attach to the toothbrush bristles, they can stay there for weeks. The fact that they can stay alive in the bristles means they still have the power to cause illness.
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.
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. Apparently, no amount of intimacy can make up for dental hygiene!
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.
Use an alcohol-based rinse or even chlorhexidine 0.02 % mouthwash for this. Pour some of the rinse into a clean plastic cup. Just pour enough to dip the toothbrush head and bristles in. Grasp the toothbrush by the handle grip and dip the bristles into the rinse.
Dentists strictly warn against sharing toothbrushes even amongst the family members. However, despite this awareness around 26% of Britain's end up sharing their toothbrushes with their friends, family, partner, or even with neighbors.
Cleaning your toothbrush with hot water between uses is probably enough for most people to feel that their toothbrush is sufficiently disinfected. If you want to take the process a step further, simple soaking methods with mouthwash, hydrogen peroxide, or denture cleanser will get your toothbrush sanitized.
And while a toothbrush cover may help protect your toothbrush from outside germs, it traps in moisture, leading to bacteria growth and not the good kind, according to the ADA. So — remove and throw away those covers.
The best toothbrush storage location is a space where you can keep your toothbrush upright so it can dry out fairly quickly. A cup or toothbrush holder with a toothbrush lid will give each toothbrush enough air space to dry without contaminating each other.
“I always recommend getting an electric toothbrush, but I know at the moment with everything that's going on, it's a struggle with money,” the hygienist said. Potter then advised that you can share one toothbrush with your family — but not the regular kind. “That means with an electric toothbrush,” she explained.
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.
Dentists strictly warn against sharing toothbrushes even amongst the family members. However, despite this awareness around 26% of Britain's end up sharing their toothbrushes with their friends, family, partner, or even with neighbors.
You should replace your toothbrush at least every three months, according to Kelman. But for some, especially people who brush their teeth a bit aggressively, you'll need a new one even sooner, she adds. “When in doubt, you need to look at the bristles,” says Kelman.
Introduction: My name is Arielle Torp, I am a comfortable, kind, zealous, lovely, jolly, colorful, adventurous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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