If you're like most people, you get a new toothbrush every six months, but you really should be changing your toothbrush more often, like every three to four months. When the bristles get worn and lose their rigidity, they don't remove plaque as well. But you should also do some maintenance within that three months, when your toothbrush is just sitting out in the open. After all, think about all the germs and bacteria floating around that would love to attach themselves to your moist toothbrush.
So to prevent colds, flu, and other sicknesses, Reader's Digest recommends that once or twice a week you run your toothbrush through the microwave on high for 10 seconds immediately before brushing. If someone in your home is sick, you may want to sterilize it in the microwave each time you brush. If you're the one who's sick, after the illness passes, ditch your old toothbrush and replace it with a new one.
Marni
Ruco Line
Bottega Veneta
Wow, I'd never have thought of microwaving a toothbrush!! Thanks, Fit!
1That's a good idea...I do that with kitchen sponges, but I didn't think about doing that for toothbrushes.
2I'm sure it helps sanitize the toothbrush, but I'm a little apprehensive about heating plastic in the microwave and then putting it in my mouth, with all the chemicals plastic can leach.
3what a great idea!!! i will be doing this from now on!! unless the plastic melting makes me sick before the bacteria does!!
4I'm with lawchick... isn't that dangerous?
5I'm guessing you can't do this with electric toothbrushes, hm?
6huh...something I'd never consider before. But yeah, isn't microwaving plastic a bad idea?
7I cant believe I never thought of that!
8What I usually do is to soak my toothbrush in Listerine for a minute every couple weeks or so. It disinfects it without the worry of leaching chemicals out of the plastic. Also, it won't deform the bristles like microwaving can.
9i change mine like clockwork every three months. the first day of the last month of the season
complicated, i know, but i always remember.
10btw not all people have microwaves, so could please write an alternative.
me hates microwaves.
11Why would you provide an alternative just because people may not have a microwave? It's a tip, take it or leave it.
12you know, i never thought about putting my toothbrush in the microwave but this makes a lot of sense. i think that we all talk about how we get so sick and wash our hands all the time, but no one thinks about their toothbrush in the same light. thanks for this tip - i'm going to do it tonight i think.
13As a Registered Dental Hygienist, I can say this is a great idea! That's why the new sonicare toothbrush comes with a UV sanitizer. It's basically doing the same thing by putting it in the microwave. You'd be amazed by all the bacteria (aerosols) floating in the air, after you use the bathroom, that fall on your toothbrush, not to mention that when you get sick, etc., those bacterias stay on your brush as well. So, go for it! Microwave away!!
14I just boil some water then drop my toothbrush in there for less than 5 minutes. kills all the bacterias and feels fresh afterwards. No need for the microwaves which can deform the toothbrush because not everyone has the same powered micro.
15i think i saw this on an episode of Monk...will try it
16Can't think of a reason why this wouldn't work with an electric toothbrush as well. Just REMOVE the power handle and put only the detachable brush in the micro. Duh
17If I have a head cold...Do you think it would work if I stuck my head in the microwave for a few minutes?
18I agree with lawchick and tiger_lily--I would be surprised if the plastic in toothbrushes is made to be microwave safe. I'm surprised this is being offered as a "health" tip.
19I'm sorry, I think I'd rather buy another tothbrush.I buy new one every month.
20we need to microwave our microwave ...bfore we microwave our toothbrush!
21"polyvinyl chloride (PVC), has been under suspicion for some time. Apparently the migration of plasticizers from PVC films to food is highest where there is direct contact between the film and foods with a high surface-fat content. Plastic-wrapped microwaved meats (specifically pork and chicken) measured the most contamination. Like the susceptor packaging, plastic wraps were approved for food use before microwave ovens were envisioned. Most recently it was discovered that furans and dioxins migrate to food from microwaveable paper trays such as those that hold prepared meat dinners." (http://tuberose.com/Microwave_Ovens.html)
22I put everyone's toothbrush in the dishwasher once a week...works great!
23I find that soaking my toothbrush periodically in water mixed with hydrogen peroxide really works. You can see the foaming and know the germs are being killed.
24is it safe to put toothbrush in microwave? i heard that some toothbrush contains metal!
25I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU GUYS A HEADS UP, MICROWAVES CAN'T STERILIZE, OK? THE HEAT/STEAM/PRESSURE CREATED BY A MICROWAVE CAN'T ACHIEVE THE STANDARD TEMPERATURE/PRESSURE NEEDED TO ACHIEVE STERILIZATION. I'M A DENTIST AND IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE STERILIZATION YOU NEED 20 PSI AND ABOUT 120-130 C FOR ABOUT 20 MINS IN A AUTOCLAVE. SO PLEASE DON'T PUT YOUR TOOTHBRUSH IN THE MICROWAVE THINKING THAT YOUR STERILIZING IT, BECAUSE YOUR NOT EVEN DISINFECTING IT.
26I usually am pretty good at buying new toothbrushes about every 4 months, but if i get sick or the sanitizing like they say i put mine in very hot to boiling water and let it sit for about 5 minutes or so. I don't know if i would do that in the microwave. Now the sponges for the kitchen i think i have done it in the microwave, but i usually will throw those in the dishwasher at least once if not twice a week.
27To add to this, I have also found that soaking the toothbrush in peroxide for an hour or 2 works great...can't remember where I read it but it is supposed to kill germs too.
28This is a very ir-responsible suggestion. We all know that toothbrush handles are made from different types of plastic and the bristles are made from nylon. How can u advise someone to microwave their toothbrush without considering the impact it would have on the handles and the bristles such as leaching, melting etc. Why not just dip the toothbrush in Listerine!!!!
29I think you would really have to nuke your toothbrush to kill any bacteria on it. (this link talks about microwaves and bacteria: http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/bio99/bio99876.htm)
And from this link (http://health.howstuffworks.com/light-virus1.htm):
"Some researchers hope to use microwaves to destroy viruses, but the technique has so far proved ineffective. The water surrounding viruses absorbs the energy from microwaves. The virus doesn't receive enough microwave energy to be affected, much less destroyed."
How about just soaking your toothbrush head in hydrogen peroxide? Kills bacteria and viruses, basically bleaches it safely.
30I have a few methods that might work better. I have either bleached my toothbrush or put it in hydrogen peroxide. when you bleach it the color band that tells you to change your toothbrush disappears though. Also, now that it is mentioned I micro plastic all the time, Left overs in a plastic storage (says microwavable) plastic kids dishes, I have a plastic measuring cup I heat water up in the nuker for oatmeal. whats every bodies thoughts?
31once i did microwave my toothbrush and got busy with cleaning, guess what ?
32The American Dental Association does not recommend microwaving toothbrushes:
"Some toothbrush cleaning methods, including use of a dishwasher or microwave oven, could damage the brush. Manufacturers may not have designed their products to withstand these conditions. The cleaning effectiveness of the brush might be decreased if it is damaged."
Source: http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/positions/statements/toothbrush.asp
33i tried it now and after 5 seconds i got lights in the microwave!
34DONT TRY THIS METHOD IT'S VERY DANGEROUS!THERE IS NO ENOUGH INFORMATION IN THIS ARTICLE.
why no body told us that some toothbrush may contain metal or how can we be sure what are they made of!
The best way to do this is to place your toothbrush in a microwave-safe container and cover it in water. It is the same principle as sterilizing your sponges at home. Water conducts heat better and in more likely to kill the bacteria. And as water will not get hotter than 212 degrees fahrenheit you don't have to worry about melting your toothbrush. So microwave for about 3 minutes and let it cool down. It will still be very hot. And microwaving a toothbrush containing metal probably isn't a very bright idea to begin with. http://md1.csa.com/partners/viewrecord.php?requester=gs&collection=ENV&r...
35Personally? I rather enjoy the complexion of my teeth. It's a rich, creamy, banana tan and it goes well with my 1960's khaki speedo. I think brushing your teeth is an overrated concept and we should keep it "natural". After all, neanderthals had no toothbrushes right? I love my butterscotch teeth and i'm content to brushing once a month and alternating between toothbrushes every 1 to 6 years. And besides, putting your toothbrush in a microwave, where one cooks dinner for the kids??! That's NASTY!
Mr. Brightsmiles, tootles!
36Did April come in October this year? Because this is an April Fools joke, right? The original research that this bogus "health tip" is inspired by showed that 99% of germs were killed in sponges after they were microwaved for 2 minutes, not 10 seconds! And the effect is due to the simple heating up of the water in the sponge to the boiling temperature, not due to the microwave radiation itself! 10 seconds is not going to do anything, you would have to basically destroy the bristles by microwaving long enough for it to be effective.
37To the "Registered Dental Hygienist"-- the UV radiation kills viruses through a completely different mechanism, by breaking down their cell walls.
I am absolutely paranoid about leaving my toothbrush out in the ‘open’. So, what do I do … I store my toothbrush in my freezer when I am done brushing. I may be naïve but I don’t think microwaving my toothbrush is healthy. The freezer works best for me!
38Also this article on Microbial inactivation by microwave radiation in the home environment. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17190338
39Can false teeth also be microwaved?
40Wow I never thought of that! I will now instead of using my toothbrush to clean the toilet, I can use it to clean my microwave
41It would be a shame if someone got sick by following lousy advice like this.
Microwaving toothbrushes has not been clinically shown to benefit your health in any way, and has actually been shown that it can damage the toothbrush and make it less effective.
Before you follow someone's half-baked idea like this, check out an article by the American Dental Association:
http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/positions/statements/toothbrush.asp
IMHO, this article should be removed before it actually causes someone to get sick or hurt.
42Bad Idea. Tests have shown the effects of heating certain plastics can act as an endocrine disruptor potentially causing reproductive harm and brain damage over time. Unless you know exactly what type of plastic is in your toothbrush, this sounds like a very bad idea.
I'm kinda surprised that a health tip article would suggest doing something like this.
The safer option would be to soak the toothbrush in mouthwash overnight(preferably something like listerine, the high alcohol content is what kills germs) and replace it every 2-3 months. To put it simply, saving a toothbrush Isn't worth damaging your health over.
43I don't sterilize my toothbrushes and I change them when they get too soft, maybe once in a year or so, and I never get sick. I think getting sick and allowing germs to make you sick is a state of mind. Otherwise, everyone would get sick who is exposed to someone with flu or a cold, and this is just not the case. If you feel vulnerable to catching something, you're going to catch it - maybe. Maybe your immune system is so good that you don't catch it even if you are afraid you're going to. Just think positive and see yourself well and strong.
44I think it would be better to put my head in the microwave for a minute? That way, I can get my entire mouth sanitized.
45I use 91% Alcohol to soak my toothbrush once a week, five minutes then antibacterial soap. I wash my toothbrush with antibacterial soap after every time I use it. Works well for me. I'd never microwave my toothbrush. There was a health alert published by Action News advising not to microwave your food in plastic due to the plastic leeching out into the food can cause health problems over time.
46I think it's a good idea with some exceptions. I use a toothbrush that vibrates and has a battery sealed inside. Putting my toothbrush into a microwave would be dangerous and could cause the battery contents to explode or leak onto the brushing head. Instead, I use a double shotglass and fill it halfway with mouthwash each morning. I put my brush into the shotglass while I shave (I'm guy...) and then brush my teeth with my sterilized brush which has a nice extra tingly taste from the mouthwash then use the shot of mouthwash to final rinse. Another way to sterilize weekly or so would be to soak the toothbrush for a few minutes in a coffee mug of water with a capful of bleach, rinse thoroughly in very hot water and you're good to go. Happy brushing
47A long time ago my wife and I were getting colds and flu back to back and figured it was due to being in the same environment togeather. We complained to our Doctor and he came up with a very smart idea. He told us to store our toothbrushs when not in use (this includes the handheld & electric type) in a container of Hydrogen Peroxide.
48You put in just enough to cover the bristles. We change the Hydrogen Peroxide at least once every two weeks per the Doctors suggestion and it has been over three years since my wife and I have exchanged colds or flu.
Sure beats the Microwave thing, I don't think thats a good idea.
We need more toothbrushes. I think Obama should take the toothbrushes from those that have too many, and share them with the people too lazy to brush their teeth.
49Hydorgen peroxide....not microwaves. I can just see me putting my battery operated toothbrush in a microwave. Right.
I keep a glass of hydrogen peroxide on the counter. I stick my manual toothbrushes in head first and leave them. I like to dip my battery operated toothbrush in before and after each brushing. HO3 is a good disinfectant and germ killer. Besides, it's good for whitening teeth, also. I also use it for a mouth rinse on occasion, just making sure not to swallow as that would result in a nasty reaction inside the stomach. Just make sure children can't reach the hydrogen peroxide.
Whoever wrote this needs a 30 minute time-out while having to wear a dunce cap. Experts say not to microwave food for more than 1 minute. I don't think they bothered to give a time limit for toothbrushes. Again, Hydrogen Peroxide works to kill germs relevant to the subject. Just make sure children don't have access as it's a clear liquid like water and shouldn't be swallowed.
Hydrogen peroxide is also good for using in humidifiers to enrich the atmosphere with oxygen. Each bottle contains 8 times it's volume of oxygen (HO3) Don't use it with a heater type humidifier, but it works real well with the Sonic type humidifiers. One thing, if you do this right before bedtime you'll have an "oxygen high" and it might be difficult to sleep. I fill mine up in the mornings with HO3 and just water at bedtime.
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