How often do you clean your toothbrush? Probably not as much as you should – right? I know I don’t really think too much about it except on those rare occasions when it just pops up in my mind as I brush.
Toothbrushes can so easily become contaminated with bacteria when it’s placed in your mouth – from your mouth, it soaks up viruses and bacteria that live for weeks. That bacteria can play a huge part in your health.
Unfortunately, even normal bacteria can lead to infections – and when you have any time of a gum issue (such as an ulcer) your chance of infection rises. The best way to prevent the accumulation of bacteria and keep your toothbrush at it’s best is to clean it weekly by washing it, and storing it properly.
Washing your Toothbrush: Soak your toothbrush for 10-15 minutes in 8-10 drops of Tea tree Essential Oil and 8 oz of water – a mason (glass) jar works best. After it cleans, rinse thoroughly. Try to repeat this weekly.
Deep Clean Frequently: Besides cleaning weekly, you might want to deep clean as well – use a toothbrush sanitizer that’s out on the market (sometimes you can find sanitizers that use ultraviolet rays).
Store it: After you clean your toothbrush, store it upright so you can allow it to try. A lack of air can fester bacteria – so try to look for an upright space in a rack or, a cup that still permits air flow.
Replace your toothbrush every 3 months or when it starts to look like it’s fraying – this goes for electric OR manual toothbrushes. Once your brush shows signs of wear it should get tossed and the new ones should come out.
Not only should you replace your brushes frequently, you should also avoid lending your toothbrush to family members – although it may seem like a trivial thing to do, sharing your brush can lead to a transfer of bacteria and saliva – considering that tooth decay is infectious,
Why Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea Tree Essential Oil is produced from a shrub tree called Melaleuca Alternifolia — which is found in Australia. Not only does it have powerful in antiseptic properties, it’s also known for it’s ability to treat wounds.
It’s been shown to kill many strains of bacteria and viruses – which makes it the perfect oil that should be in everybody’s medicine cabinet.
Read more about the Essential Oils we recommend.
[…] Soak your gunky toothbrush in a combination of tea tree oil and a cup of water. Ten drops of tea tree oil should be sufficient. Leave the toothbrush to soak for at least 15 minutes. […]