Daily: Let your toothbrush air dry
● Most to the bad bacteria in the mouth are anaerobic, so simply letting
the brush air dry (no cap on) in light will get rid of these germs.
Weekly
● Clean brush weekly with hydrogen peroxide or alcohol mouthwash,
then rinse brush and allow to air dry.
When sick (until brush is replaced):
● After each use up until first 2-3 days on antibiotics, soak brush head in
hydrogen peroxide or alcohol mouthwash then rinse with water and air
dry.
● Once major illness symptoms have resolved, you should toss the old
brush and introduce a new one.
When to throw brush away?
● Replace toothbrushes every season, or approximately every three
months.
● If your child becomes sick or bristles become damaged (i.e. splaying
from chewing), you should replace sooner!
Some tips:
● Avoid storing family members’ brushes in close proximity to each
other.
● Wipe paste off tube dispenser with a clean finger then transfer to brush
hea brother than wiping directly onto bristles to avoid cross
contamination.
Original source from the American Dental Association
Have more questions? The team at Bright Healthy Smiles, a pediatric dentist on the Upper East Side, is happy to help at your child’s next visit.