Have you ever thought that your dental hygiene habits should include washing your hands? Think about everything you’ve been doing before you brush your teeth, especially at night. Now think about everything your kids have been doing before brushing their teeth. Would you want all those germs getting in your mouth?
Include Hand Washing in Your Bedtime Routine for a Healthier Mouth
First, let’s take a look at the different activities an adult—or child—might do before bed.
You may have been touching:
- Phone screens.
- Car door handles.
- Several different door knobs.
- The toilet.
- The countertop.
- Faucet handles.
- A computer keyboard or mouse.
In our society, we touch so many surfaces that it can be hard to keep track of how many. In an effort to stop the spread of germs, we encourage all our patients to wash their hands before and after they brush or floss.
Your child may also be trying to hurry through a bedtime routine. Some kids might put off washing their hands until they’re completely ready for bed, which means touching the toilet handle and then touching their toothbrush. Yuck!
Keep Germs Away During the Pandemic—and After!
Not only do you want to keep the coronavirus out of your mouth, but you also want to keep other bacteria out. Bacteria crawls into the spaces between your teeth, building up and causing tooth decay. Germs can also build up on your toothbrush, so you want to keep that clean too.
How Do I Keep My Toothbrush Clean?
Replacing your toothbrush every three to four months is a good idea, but we can offer a few tips in the meantime:
- Wash your hands before you brush your teeth.
- Run hot water over the bristles before and after you brush to kill germs.
- If you have an illness in your house, try soaking the toothbrushes in antibacterial mouthwash to disinfect them.
- After a serious illness like strep throat or COVID-19, you may want to replace your toothbrush.
Keeping your hands and your toothbrush clean is essential to good oral health and a happy smile!