Environmental microbiologist Chuck Gerba studies the spread of viruses and parasites, and he made an interesting discovery about bathroom hygiene. Gerba found that every time you flush the toilet, your toothbrush gets sprayed with bacteria. Eww! Even if you put the lid down before pressing the handle, microorganisms are still ejected into the air landing on every surface in your bathroom. Although, you probably won't get sick because the bacteria dies when the toothbrush dries, it's a good idea to keep your toothbrush as far away from the toilet as you can. Placing it in the medicine cabinet or your vanity drawer is a good option. Other items you should store in drawers include contact lens containers, bars of soap, and other things you use on your body in order to protect them from harmful germs. I keep my toothbrush in the bathroom closet. Where do you store yours?
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Health Tip: Protect Your Toothbrush From Bacteria
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Our toilet, tub and shower are in a separate room from the sinks and vanity .. in all of our bathrooms. And I keep my toothbrush in a drawer. After reading this I'm sooooooooo very glad.
1I keep my toothbrush in the top drawer, with a cover on the brushhead. What can i say, I'm a but neurotic.
2"Although, you probably won't get sick because the bacteria dies when the toothbrush dries"
That is pretty much exactly why I don't really worry too much about where in the bathroom my toothbrush is. I rinse my mouth with Listerine after I brush anyway, so that'd kill any germs that were on it and happened to still be viable. Seriously, people are SUCH germaphobes about certain things.
3Yeah, I don't think I've ever gotten sick from my toothbrush
4A few years ago the show "Mythbusters" tackled this exact myth, keeping toothbrushes in the bathroom near the toilet, far from the toilet, & a control set in a room down the hall. The results were that virtually the same amount of bacteria were on the control toothbrushes as the ones in the bathroom--the bacteria come from your mouth, not from being sprayed into the air by a flushing toilet.
5I have a toothbrush cover, and it stays in the medicine cabinet.
6I already keep mine in the drawer...phew!
7my bathrrom is tiny, no space for a cabinet. so on a shelf, but in a case and i make sure to dry it with a towel. moving soon - yahoo, will make sure to find a big bathroom.
8kittyhill, I remember that. I think they also said or maybe I read it somewhere, that the spray doesn't go as far as people think/say it does.
9You need bacteria in your body so that your immune system can become stronger. Mmmmmm, bacteria.
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