Most of us, when done brushing our teeth at night, simply rinse our toothbrush and leave it out to dry. But according to one doctor on TikTok, that means missing out on one important step in your nightly hygiene routine that could make a huge impact on your general health.
Dr. Joe Whittington, an ER doctor who boasts more than 1.8 million followers on the platform, explained in a video this week why everyone should be cleaning their toothbrush after they use it. And the reasoning goes way beyond oral health alone.
"Guys, I’m going to give you one mind-blowing health tip that can not only have a profound impact on your health, it only takes 30 seconds each night," Whittington explained in the clip. "And I can almost guarantee you’re not doing it."
"You see my little friend here,” he said, pointing to an electric toothbrush in his hand. "Every single night you should be washing your toothbrush bristles with soap and water."
"Not only can this greatly impact the amount of bacteria and plaque buildup in your mouth, now studies are showing that the bacteria in your mouth may be linked to your cardiovascular health, including the development of heart failure and atrial fibrillation," the TikTok doc continued.
As other doctors have noted, however, you should be sure to thoroughly rinse your toothbrush off after this to avoid any irritation caused by leftover soap.
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Whittington also advised that once per week, you should give your toothbrush a deep cleaning by soaking it in hydrogen peroxide or antibacterial mouthwash.
But while soap and water and antibacterial agents can keep your toothbrush clean and your body healthy, he revealed when you should get rid of it entirely.
"Finally, if you get strep throat, after 12 to 24 hours, throw this thing away," Whittington added.
While his comments may sound unconventional, Web MD also recommends regularly sanitizing your toothbrush to keep bacteria at bay. While the online health resource doesn't go so far as to suggest washing it with soap and water every day, it does recommend mouthwash or a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide disinfecting solution.
The website also notes that ultraviolet toothbrush sanitizers may be more effective than saline and antiseptic mouthwash, though experts are divided whether this is necessary, and note that it may actually damage the toothbrush.
In either case, it seems clear that one thing experts agree on is that simply rinsing is not enough. Happy brushing!
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