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Considering how wonderfully electronic toothbrushes take care of you, it is vital to handle your electric toothbrush with the highest attention. Your teeth need to be completely cleaned with every brushing, after all.
If you detect an unusual scent or sticky buildup, it might be time to give your electric toothbrush a full cleaning. It merely takes a few minutes, and doing so once a month may help it last longer, so you may keep using it.
8 Easy Steps in Cleaning Your Electric Toothbrush
Step 1: Get the Necessary Materials
You will need bleach and a clean cloth to clean the electric toothbrush.
Step 2: Detach Your Toothbrush Head from its Handle
First, you need to detach the brush head from the handle. Then you have to clean the brush and the head separately.
Step 3: Clean Your Toothbrush Head
Prepare a Bleach Solution
Bleach is the best germ cleaner when it comes to the case of electric toothbrushes. To clean it with bleach, you have to prepare a bleach solution first. For that, mix 10% of bleach and 90% of water in a solution.
First, take a cup and pour water into it. Then add bleach to it. Make sure the cup is big enough to hold the head of the toothbrush. For safety measures, you can use rubber gloves.
Soak Your Toothbrush Head in the Solution
For one hour, let the mixture stay on the toothbrush head. Make sure the head is thoroughly coated with your mixture before setting an hour-long timer.
Your toothbrush head will be washed and disinfected with bleach, eradicating any bacteria or germs.
Avoid keeping it on for longer than an hour. Even at this dosage, bleach is still fairly strong. Ensure that your bleach container is positioned high and away from children and animals.
Rinse Your Toothbrush Head in Water
Give your toothbrush a thorough wash. Take the brush head out of the water and give it a proper cleaning in the sink.
Clean again until the solution is clean and there is no longer any bleach stench on your toothbrush.
Make very sure the toothbrush is completely disinfected, as it is dangerous to use one that has bleach leftover on it.
To know how often you should replace electric toothbrush heads, click here.
Step 4: Wipe Your Toothbrush Head
Set the toothbrush out to dry after cleaning the head. Take a clean towel and try to remove as much of the toothbrush head as you can.
To avoid fungus or bacteria, lay your toothbrush head on the counter or in the bathroom to properly dry off.
Nobody wants sticky gunk to become trapped in their toothbrush handle due to a moist brush.
Step 5: Clean your Toothbrush Handle
Rub Your Toothbrush Handle Bleach Solution
You have to clean the toothbrush handle with a cloth soaked in bleach water. Use the bleach and water solution to clean the toothbrush’s handle as well. Take a cotton pad, soak it in a bleach solution, and then rub the handle surface. It will decrease the hiding bacteria from the handle.
Always detach your toothbrush before starting to clean it. Put on protective gloves before interacting with bleach.
Wipe the Metal Post Clean
Clean the metal post that keeps the toothbrush head in place. A small metal post that sticks straight up if your toothbrush head is detachable, as most electric toothbrush heads are. Use your towel and properly wipe this post as it may accumulate a lot of water and bacteria.
If cleaning is not completed by only wiping, you can use a cotton pad to clean thoroughly. If you can’t locate the source of the bad stench coming from your toothbrush, it is because there must be bacterial germs on it.
Step 6: Wipe Clean the Charging Dock
With your cloth, clean the toothbrush’s handle. Most toothbrushes contain a charging base, which over time may become blocked with water and toothpaste. Use the same cloth to clean the top and underneath of the charging base while avoiding the cable and outlet regions.
Step 7: Reassemble Your Toothbrush
Now you have to put the parts back into their positions. Enter the head and handle as it was.
Step 8: Keep Your Toothbrush Upright to Dry
Use a new towel to clean everything off before reinstalling the head. Make sure to properly dry your toothbrush handle after each use, as moisture trapped inside could lead to germs.
Don’t immerse the toothbrush’s body in the water because doing so can produce an electric shock.
Tips to Maintain Your Electric Toothbrush
- Wash the handle and head of your toothbrush after each use. A tiny amount of toothpaste will inevitably get trapped there each time you use your toothbrush, making the brush sticky.
- As normal, brush your teeth as normal, then clean the toothbrush under running water until it appears clean once more. A clean toothbrush will clean your teeth more efficiently.
- Don’t forcefully clean your teeth. If you wash your teeth forcefully, the bristles on your toothbrush will lose strength more rapidly than normal. You should brush gently.
- When you see that bristles are bent or flattened, you should replace the toothbrush immediately.
- Hang your toothbrush vertically. This will make it much simpler for your toothbrush to become dry than if you laid it on its side.
- To avoid the formation of bacteria, don’t keep your toothbrush in a closed container. You should learn the proper method of using an electric toothbrush.
- Keep your toothbrush in a transportable container when you go on vacation. If you’re carrying your toothbrush with you, don’t leave it in your luggage unattended or open.
- Replace the brush head every three to four months. Most home goods retailers and websites offer new toothbrush heads for sale.
To buy an electric toothbrush, check out this link.
Conclusion
Countless types of bacteria and germs dwell in our mouths. The bacteria, saliva, toothpaste, food particles, and blood that you brush off of your teeth and tongue stay on your toothbrush. According to research, a toothbrush could still be infested with germs even after being cleaned with water.
You should brush your teeth every day to protect them from germs. You have to clean your toothbrush regularly too.
