When it comes to your oral hygiene, there is one issue that you might not have thought of – fecal matter on your toothbrush. Sound disgusting? Well, a recent study found that about 60% of the toothbrushes found in a shared bathroom contained fecal matter.

The same study found that about 80% of the contaminated toothbrushes contained fecal matter that belonged to someone else. Before you throw your toothbrush away and vow to never brush your teeth again, you should know that there are some simple ways to protect your toothbrush from fecal contamination.

Shut the Lid before Flushing

Each time you flush the toilet, an aerosol mist is released. This is caused by the force of the water swirling around the toilet bowl before it goes down the drain. That aerosol mist contains fecal matter and urine. You can control the release of the aerosol by closing the lid before you flush the toilet. The mist, along with the fecal matter will stay in the toilet bowl.

Rinse Your Toothbrush with Hot Water before Use

If you don't rinse your toothbrush before you place the toothpaste on it, you're allowing all the germs on the toothbrush to enter your mouth. Rinse your toothbrush in hot water for several seconds before applying the toothpaste. That will help remove germs and fecal matter from the bristles on your toothbrush.

Sanitize Your Toothbrush Once a Week

You can protect yourself from fecal matter contamination by sanitizing your toothbrush once a week. There are a couple of ways you can do this. One way is to place your toothbrush in the utensil compartment of your dishwasher and send it through a wash cycle. The hot water will sanitize your toothbrush and leave it germ-free.

If you don't own a dishwasher, here's another easy way to disinfect your toothbrush. Simply fill a cup with water and add a tablespoon of bleach. Soak your toothbrush in the solution overnight. In the morning, rinse your toothbrush with hot water before use.

Replace Your Toothbrush More Often

Even with weekly disinfecting, your toothbrush can wear out. Once your toothbrush wears out, it's easier for germs and bacteria to hide in little cracks and crevices. To keep bacteria from building up on your toothbrush, and to get your teeth as clean as they can be, you should replace it once every three to four months.

You don't want to brush your teeth with fecal matter. Keep fecal matter off your toothbrush by following the simple steps listed above. To find out more about oral health, contact someone like Pike Lake Dental Center.