Can You Clean a Toothbrush in Boiling Water

You might be familiar with the practice of a lot of people boiling their toothbrushes in water.

When I saw people like that, I used to ask them not to do it. After all, you never know when that plastic is going to decompose and let out horrible chemicals in there.

Plus, boiling is always a little hard on your toothbrush anyway. And I hated it.

However, after I did my research, I found out that I was wrong.

Boiling is actually a great idea! Not only does it clean your toothbrush, it actually effective get rids of a whole lot of bacteria, making it a great choice to go for.

[Now, that’s not all that there is to it, obviously. Keep reading for more about it!]

Why was I against boiling toothbrushes?

As I just remarked I used to be seriously against boiling toothbrushes.

And while a lot of people I know tried to convince me, I wouldn’t have any of it. I was firmly convinced that it was not a good thing.

[You must be wondering why I thought so. So, here you go!]

Well, I used to think that boiling your toothbrush actually harmed your health in the long run.

I thought that it would actually let the plastic decay, and some chemicals that it liberates might actually have an effect on your health in the long run.

However, you’d be glad to know that I was wrong.

The toothbrush does take quite a beating when you boil it. However, it does not decompose.

So, there’s no risk of a contamination like that. So, that’s why I stopped being against it, because it wasn’t harmful (except for the toothbrush which took a beating.)

Quoting Cleveland Clinic,

..“None of that is necessary,” says dentist Karyn Kahn, DDS. “I suggest just rinsing it in good, hot water.”

Does the toothbrush get really damaged?

It’s only natural for you to be worried about your toothbrush too.

After all, boiling seems like something that would damage it quite a bit.

However, you’d be glad to know that it doesn’t really get too damaged.

It does damage it. Don’t get me wrong on that one- it does, but it really isn’t serious. And that’s why there really isn’t too much to worry about.

Plus, as long as you don’t plan on doing it everyday, it’s fine to actually do it once in a fortnight.

Even so, if you don’t want to damage it, you have other awesome options such as cleaning your toothbrush with hydrogen peroxide or baking soda.

How to clean your toothbrush in boiling water?

There are several ways to clean your toothbrush in boiling water. However, two of them are worth mentioning:

• Dipping the toothbrush-head in boiling water: Some people actually recommend boiling only the toothbrush head in boiling water. This would actually keep the rest of the body safer, and you don’t really need to put it in there either.
• Putting the whole toothbrush in boiling water: Some others, on the other hand, actually prefer putting all of it in thew water. They believe that it helps clean it perfectly and doesn’t let bacteria stay anywhere on there.

While it’s impossible to make a choice between the two, if you’re like me, you probably don’t like to take chances.

And if you don’t like to take any chances with your dental health, it’s probably just safe to put the whole toothbrush in there just to be sure, if nothing else.

Also, how long should you keep it in there for is something you might want to ask me. Well, while there isn’t any specific time like that, it’s recommended that you keep it in there for around 2 minutes if you can.

That would ensure that the germs and bacteria are killed and that your toothbrush is perfectly fit for use again.

Your toothbrush retires too!

Even though you might be taking the best care of your toothbrush, you still need to realize that it won’t last forever.

In fact, even minor damages can actually affect its functionality drastically. And as such, you need to know when it’s time to actually go for a new toothbrush. After all, you can’t make a compromise when it comes to your dental hygiene!

And trust me, a lot of my friends just didn’t know when to change their toothbrushes! I was so surprised, because this is something I always took for granted. But eventually, I realized that people just don’t replace their toothbrushes until they just can’t be used anymore- and this is a horrible idea!

So, we decided to get an article prepared on how often you might want to replace your toothbrush. We also took a look at how you might find out when it’s time to actually change it. So, click here to check out how long should a toothbrush last!

Tooth Advocates is always by your side!

And don’t forget that we’re always here for you! Today’s article ends here, but we aren’t going anywhere, because we always stick with you!

We care for you, and we love to keep you informed about all the dental hygiene information that you need to know! We understand that even at the end of this article, there might still be a few questions that are pestering you- there always are, trust me!

And guess what? We would love to hear from you! So if there’s anything you might want to ask us, please do not hesitate in reaching out to us, because we’re here from you and we’re always on the lookout for any opportunities of being able to help you keep that smile in the best shape!

Thank you for taking your time to read this article till the very end. We really look forward to having you on our upcoming articles right here at Tooth Advocates!