Do you know how to clean toothbrush with vinegar and keep your brush free from bacteria and other microbes?
The mouth carries bacteria from the food we eat and other exposure of our mouth to the atmosphere, which is why it is necessary to always maintain good oral hygiene.
Introduction to how to clean toothbrush with vinegar
Bacteria in the mouth over a long period can cause tooth diseases such as tooth holes, receding gum, and mouth odor, which are both discomforting and unhealthy to an individual.
For this reason, it is good to be conscious and deliberate about avoiding the entry of bacteria into the mouth, that’s why it is pertinent to discuss the cleansing of the toothbrush.
In the process of keeping the teeth clean by brushing, some bacteria from the mouth stick to the toothbrush and even multiply especially when kept in a wet condition for a long while.
The toothbrush is also a carrier of bacteria and if not properly handled to eliminate germs, the process of teeth cleaning will be a waste of time, as the bacteria from the brush will keep doubling.
Toothbrushes can carry bacteria for a long, it gets contaminated with bacteria when exposed to the atmospheric bacteria that can not be seen with the ordinary eyes, then from the mouth, which can be a bank of bacteria if not properly taken care of.
So while taking good care of your teeth, keep the instrument used (toothbrush) in keeping the mouth clean.
Disinfecting and keeping the toothbrush clean, there are various methods of doing so. It can be done by putting the brush in boiling water, using mouthwash to rinse, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and so on.
What matters is that in one way or the other, bacteria lurking in the brush are washed away. It’s seen therefore that there are various ways of keeping the brush free from harmful bacteria remnants that could affect the teeth, however, the use of vinegar will be discussed in this piece.
Vinegar is a cleansing agent, it contains acetic acid that kills bacteria on surfaces and in substances.
How To Use Vinegar to Have a Bacteria-free Toothbrush
Using vinegar to keep the toothbrush free from bacteria is very easy, it entails that you put the substance of vinegar that comes in contact with the toothbrush and allow it to react against the unwanted bacteria, and then be ready to use a bacteria-free toothbrush.
Below are ways to use vinegar to disinfect your toothbrush:
The Vinegar Rinse:
You can decide to rinse your brush using white vinegar or apple cider vinegar to wash out bacteria. This should be done when the brush is not about to be used.
You can do the rinse after brushing your teeth, then pour about a quarter quantity of cups into the brush to eliminate bacteria components from the brush. After this is done, allow your brush to dry properly before using it.
The Vinegar Soak:
Another way to use the vinegar is to soak the toothbrush inside the vinegar. You can either use apple cider or white vinegar to soak your toothbrush.
Scoop a few drops of water and get a quarter quantity of vinegar in a container and soak your brush for about 15-20 minutes to cleanse the toothbrush from bacteria that could lead to tooth diseases. Bacteria such as yeast, mold stay longer on brushes since the eye can not see them, it is better to be safe and disinfect your toothbrushes before using them.
This could be done every once a month bearing in mind that the toothbrush should be changed once in three months or whenever the bristles are frayed.
The Vinegar Mix:
Mixing some ingredients with vinegar is also a good way to keep the toothbrush clean and free from bacteria.
To disinfect your toothbrush, mix a half cup of water, two tablespoons of vinegar; it could be white or apple vinegar, then add a half scoop of baking soda and soak the brush in the container for about thirty minutes.
Immediately after you remove the brush, throw the mixture away and allow your toothbrush to dry completely before using it.
That way, accumulated and new bacteria stuck on the toothbrush will be cleaned. Vinegar is an active disinfectant against bacteria because it has antimicrobial properties; it was made to kill bacteria.
Bacteria are found in our environment, some are harmful, while some are not. The harmful bacteria should be avoided to prevent their harm.
Ways to avoid the build-up of microbes
The following are ways, you can avoid the build-up of bacteria on your brush:
Always Keep in Cool Dry Place:
Humidity breeds more bacteria, hence, the need to always keep the brush dry always. Sometimes, one will notice that the root of the brush head is changing color from its original color, which happens mostly because of the presence of bacteria on the brush.
Therefore, to avoid brush breeding and multiplying more bacteria, it is better to keep it dry to prevent a favorable environment for bacteria
Do not Keep Toothbrush Side by Side:
Sometimes, we make the mistake of putting toothbrushes side by side with other people, it is not appropriate as bacteria from another person’s mouth differs from another, and could multiply when the brushes come in contact.
To avoid such, it’s advisable to avoid such cases, especially putting the brush in contact with a sick person’s brush.
Putting in the Right Environment:
Environments such as toilets and the bathroom are good spots for breeding bacteria. If possible, do not put it in the bathroom and toilet because that’s an easy ground for bacteria.
Another thing to note is to put your toothbrush in an environment where there is aeration; lack of aeration also causes an increase in bacteria such as mold, yeast which thrive in the toilet, if possible, avoid keeping it in the toilet, simply keep it in a dry cool place where air reaches the toothbrush.
Another thing is to avoid the atmosphere of bacteria contamination. As earlier noted besides bacteria from internal sources, there are also from external sources that can not be seen with the ordinary eye, it is best to keep your toothbrush in areas where there is less likelihood of bacteria contamination.
Doing the Brush Rinse With Mouthwash:
Using the mouthwash rinse as a disinfectant is also a profitable way to avoid bacteria contamination on your toothbrush.
The mouth rinse has a combination of ingredients that are useful in killing harmful bacteria in the brush, hence, using mouth rinse isn’t a bad option to keep your toothbrush free from bacteria contamination.
Changing Your Toothbrush When Due:
The recommended duration by a dentist is to use your toothbrush for only three months, then you change it, apart from this, the toothbrush should be changed once the bristles of the brush get frayed or weak.
That way, your toothbrush is in good condition to clean your mouth properly. Some people are in the habit of using the toothbrush for too long, most times due to negligence, the brush will be too old to even brush the teeth appropriately. If you are using an electric toothbrush, then you should change the head in intervals and disinfect it properly to avoid the build-up of bacteria.
Not Using A sick Person’s Brush:
The tendency of increased bacteria in a sick person is high, for this reason, it is wise to not use their toothbrush to avoid bacteria contact from your mouth and theirs.
Not just that, it is inappropriate to use another person’s toothbrush. You don’t want bacteria clashes after brushing your teeth, stay away from other people’s toothbrushes.
Final Thoughts on the Use of Vinegar to Clean The Toothbrush
I am confident you now know how to clean a toothbrush with vinegar. Bacteria buildup is the cause of most tooth diseases, hence, any form of bacteria contamination multiplying should be avoided.
When it comes to cleaning, vinegar is a perfect agent as acetic acid is one of Its ingredients; it’s a big cleaning agent.
Acetic acid has antimicrobial properties; it kills bacteria. It is for these reasons that it is appropriate to use vinegar to kill the bacteria stuck on the toothbrush. A mouth and brush free of bacteria are best.
Bacteria have their way on toothbrushes because the mouth harbors bacteria a lot; when consuming food, the breakdown of food particles remaining in the mouth after a while increases bacteria in the mouth, which is why you must brush your teeth before going to bed.
The bacteria build-up in the mouth also transfers to the toothbrush, and if not properly disinfected and stored appropriately, the humid nature surrounding the toothbrush will also add up to multiplying and breeding bacteria on the toothbrush. Using a contaminated toothbrush is not an option if you love the good health and hygiene of your mouth and brush.
Generally, avoid keeping your toothbrush in a wet environment; a wet environment allows bacteria to thrive on the toothbrush. Another point worthy of note is to use the vinegar in various ways, you can decide on either white or apple cider vinegar to keep the brush in an antibacterial-free state.
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Chibueze Uchegbu is a certified medical physiologist with a great passion for healthy living.
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