A common practice that increases the accumulation of germs and bacteria in the toothbrush

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Teeth cleaning is crucial in maintaining oral health and thus overall health, therefore, it is important to pay attention to how clean the tools used in this process are.

In fact, it is widely known that our mouths are polluted and that toothbrushes are germ bombs.

In the battle for oral health, most assume that toothbrush covers serve an important purpose: protecting us from fecal particles. According to this claim, these covers protect us from the so-called “splash zone” in the bathroom, where feces can be transferred to the toothbrush bristles.

But the American Dental Association (ADA) warns that toothbrush covers may not act as bacteria barriers as we hope, and are likely keeping germs in, not out.

The American Dental Association's advice aligns with a 2015 Quinnipiac University study that found that toothbrush covers not only protect the brush from bacterial growth, but rather create an environment that promotes it by keeping the bristles moist and preventing the toothbrush head from drying out between uses.

If the thought of contamination with fecal particles bothers you, consider storing your toothbrush in the medicine cabinet where it can dry properly away from contaminants.

A dry toothbrush is very important for maintaining ideal oral health, so experts recommend using two brushes, one for the evening and one for the morning, so that each brush has 24 hours to dry between uses.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes and using dental floss at least once a day.

Studies have shown that electric toothbrushes are more effective at cleaning teeth than their manual counterparts, and many come with built-in timers that ensure users brush for the recommended two minutes.

Dentists also recommend spitting but not rinsing your mouth with water after brushing your teeth to ensure that the active ingredients remain in the toothpaste.

Good oral health has been linked to a wide range of benefits including longer life, prevention of diseases such as Alzheimer's, lower blood pressure and a lower risk of heart disease.