Can You Clean a Toothbrush With Bleach? Is it Safe?

Bleach is one of the more controversial and potentially dangerous options that you have for cleaning your toothbrush. You might find that every other person has a different opinion about their level of recommendation when it comes to Bleach due to it’s toxicity when ingested.

[However, in today’s article, we are going to find out the right answer for you. So, stay tuned and keep reading!]

Well, let’s get to the real question then, Can You Clean a Toothbrush With Bleach?

The short answer to that would be Yes, you can…. But… that’s not all that there is to it. Once you have fully cleaned and sanitized your toothbrush with bleach then you have to clean it again very thoroughly to be able to actually use it.

There’s a little more that you simply must be aware about and keep in mind. Using bleach will kill everything on that brush just like a modern UV sanitizer would but using bleach is so much more dangerous.

While you technically can clean your toothbrush with bleach, it’s one of the most debated issues among professionals, it’s just something we don’t recommend and it just so happens that this is one of the methods that many other people simply don’t agree to doing either.

[But, don’t worry. We’re going to check out if this method is worth it, as well as why you might or might not want to go for it. Keep reading to find out more!]

Does Bleach Kill Bacteria on a Toothbrush?

Whenever you’re talking about Dental Hygiene, the first thing you need to get rid of is Bacteria.

These are pretty much the things that can make all of your effort pointless if left there. So, the first thing to check is if Bleach is going to get rid of the Bacteria on your toothbrush as well as in your mouth (which might get on the toothbrush).

Well, you’d be glad to know that Bleach is a well known agent when it comes to cleaning bacteria. And not only that. Bleach is one of the choices which are the most economic, making it something almost everyone is always eager to go for.

Does Bleach Kill Mold on a Toothbrush?

Next in line is Mold. Mold is really not a huge concern because it generally doesn’t appear on the head of the toothbrush.

However, it is much more prone to appearing near the charging base of the electric toothbrushes and are also something you might want to take care of.

Naturally, if Bleach can kill these too, that would be a good thing because you’d be able to use the same thing for a lot of different purposes.

Well, as it turns out, Bleach is actually a good agent against mold as well.

However, there is one thing you might want to keep in mind- the surface where the mold has developed plays an important role when it comes to killing mold for Bleach. Quoting Blacktoxicmolds,

Bleach also kills mold if it comes into contact with it. The spores and allergens from mold are neutralized as well. Bleach will kill mold growing on non-porous surfaces like glass, tiles, bathtubs and counter tops. However bleach cannot completely kill mold growing in non-porous materials like drywall and wood.

Does Bleach Kill Viruses on a Toothbrush?

Next in line are Viruses! These things are a little harder to kill most of the time, because they are naturally a little more sturdy than bacteria.

However, it just so happens that you’re in luck if you’re planning to use Bleach.

Why, you ask? Well, Bleach happens to be a really awesome disinfectant that has already been tested over and over. So, it has already proven its ability to fight well against Viruses!

So, if it’s the Viruses that you’re worried about Bleach is something that you can entirely rely on!

Does Bleach Kill Germs on a Toothbrush?

As I just remarked, Bleach is one of the most well known disinfectants out there!

So, it does not really come as a surprise when I say that Bleach is actually really good at dealing with germs.

So, to sum it all up, if you have a problem with Bacteria, viruses, or germs, or any possible combination of these, Bleach is one of the choices that you can blindly go for, because Bleach can easily take care of all of these!

[Now, that does make Bleach a really good choice for almost everyone, doesn’t it? Stick around to find out what else it is and isn’t good for!]

Does Bleach Kill Yeast on a Toothbrush?

Okay, now here comes the part that you’ve been waiting for.

Can you actually use Bleach  to kill yeast on a toothbrush?

Well, this is actually a pretty tough questions, and the experts are pretty divided in their opinion when it comes to this

Bleach can kill Yeast. That’s for sure, and everyone knows. However, something that is a cause for concern is if it can actually get rid of the spores that’s in there.

And that’s where confusion kicks in. No one’s sure. It might do the trick, or it might not do the trick, and it’s all a big gamble.

Yes, it’s true that the immediate problems are gone, because the yeast is gone, but it might be back. So, that’s one good reason to probably look for alternatives. Of course, given if you aren’t planning on using bleach everyday!

Does Bleach Kill Fungus on a Toothbrush?

Well, this is one of those places where Bleach actually starts lagging behind some other choices such as Baking Soda (click here to find out more about cleaning your toothbrush with baking soda.)

It just so happens that while bleach is pretty effective, it isn’t a 100% effective. So, it naturally isn’t a very good choice to go for. You don’t want to take a gamble with your dental health, do you?

So, it is generally recommended that you should not really use Bleach to kill Fungus.

Again, given the fact that bleach can’t work well on some surfaces and isn’t really good with killing spores, it’s pretty much the best idea to avoid bleach altogether when to comes to fungus.

How to Disinfect your Toothbrush with Bleach?

Okay, so you might want to know how you can actually disinfect your toothbrush with Bleach.

[This happens to be a really important part, and so it’s really recommended that you read it carefully.]

So, it just so happens that just using bleach is one of the worst things you can do, because it doesn’t do almost anything.

However, its abilities can be drastically improved if only you dilute it in a little bit of water.

Once you do that, you can actually see that it’s one of the best disinfectants out there! This is the main reason why a lot of people actually recommend Bleach.

Quoting HealthFully on how you might be able to prepare bleach for sanitizing your toothbrush,

• Carefully create a solution of diluted bleach in a concentration that’s one part bleach to four parts water. The solution should be mixed and used in a plastic container far out of children’s reach. Bleach should never be put in a metal container, as a chemical reaction will result.
• Place the toothbrushes head first into the diluted bleach solution. Let them soak overnight to kill any microorganisms that are living in the bristles.
• Rinse the toothbrushes thoroughly in the morning and allow them to dry prior to use. The American Dental Association recommends that all toothbrushes be disinfected daily to decrease the chance of contamination.
• Dispose of the bleach solution after each use. Once mixed with water, bleach begins to lose its disinfectant properties, so the solution must be freshly made each time the toothbrushes are cleaned.

How Long does it take for Bleach to Sanitize a Toothbrush?

Bleach actually takes quite a while to do its job perfectly.

The exact amount of time, as always, varies from person to person, depending on how much one thinks is important.

However, there is a general rule. It is usually recommended that one should soak their toothbrush in bleach solution overnight. This is reasonable. It ensures that all the microorganisms are gotten rid of, so that your dental hygiene can be easily maintained.

So, if you’re not sure how long you should leave your toothbrush in bleach solution- try leaving it there overnight.

How Often Should You Soak Your Toothbrush in Bleach Solution?

What you might want to ask me at this point is how often you might want to soak your toothbrush in a bleach solution?

Good Question.

Well, it just so happens that the experts are a little divided on this one as well. Some people recommend doing it once a week, while some just prefer to do it everyday.

So, it really depends on you, how much you use your toothbrush, and where you store it. However, you can use it everyday if you want to- no problems with that.

Why Some Professionals do not recommend Bleach

Now, it is important to mention here that a lot of professionals do NOT recommend using Bleach.

The greatest concern is that you must be really careful if you’re using bleach. Using bleach without the proper caution can be really dangerous and might have severe consequences.

So, some experts recommend avoiding it altogether so as to avoid putting yourself at risk.

However, some people still do use bleach. And some of the experts really think that a lot of things can put you at the same level of risk if not used carefully, and they find nothing really worrying about the use of bleach.

So, it is really recommended that you do your research, and then decide if you want to go for bleach or not.

Tooth Advocates are here to ensure your Dental Health!

You’ve finally reached the end of today’s article! Today, we saw the main things that Bleach does, and how you might be able to use it to perfectly clean your toothbrush.

Naturally, we also discussed the several views that experts have regarding bleach. The best choice here seems to judge the situation well before leaping in. As long as you do your research well, there’s not much to worry about.

We understand that you might still have a couple of questions for us. And guess what? We look forward to hearing from you and attending to your queries. So, if there’s anything you think we might be able to help you with, don’t hesitate to shoot it our way!

Once again, thank you for taking your time to read this article till the very end. We really hope that you liked it, and that you would stay tuned for our upcoming ones! Until we meet again on another article, Tooth Advocates wishes you a great day!