We thank our advertisers who help fund this site.
This idea that you should throw away your toothbrush after you’ve been sick is getting out of hand. I just saw that recommendation again on two dental blogs this past week. It’s not true. This is an idea that has been pushed by toothbrush companies that is not backed by any scientific research whatsoever. In fact, my research turned up only one scientific study on the subject—a 2013 study at the University of Texas that was published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. It showed that transmission of strep throat via toothbrush did not happen.
Here is a promotional display that I found in a local Walmart:
There is no scientific evidence to back up this claim.
Yes, you can catch a cold right on the heels of recovering from a cold. But it will be a different cold virus—not the one you just fought off. You have developed antibodies to that virus and are now immune to that particular strain. So you can’t reinfect yourself. That’s basic physiology, that all health professionals should have been taught in school. For confirmation, read what Dr. Caroline Rudnick says. She is an assistant professor of community and family medicine at St. Louis University.
You can sterilize your toothbrush
If that’s not enough to satisfy you, you have another option—sterilize your toothbrush. How? With simple chlorine bleach (e.g. Clorox). The Centers for Disease Control explain the excellent bactericidal properties of chlorine bleach. Just put a little bleach into a small cup, enough to cover the head of the brush, soak your brush in it for about five minutes, rinse, and you’ve got a sterilized brush, cleaner than when you opened the package. There will be no residue or aftertaste.
Chlorine bleach would be used in medical and dental applications as a sterilizing agent except for some negative properties. It bleaches clothes and other objects, and it is extremely corrosive to metal. It also can form toxic chemicals if allowed to come into contact with certain other medical disinfectants. But otherwise, it is a great sterilant.
– Dr. Hall
Do you have a comment or a question or anything else to add? We’d love to hear from you. Enter your comment below.
Click here to ask Dr. Hall a question of your own.
About David A. Hall
Dr. David A. Hall was one of the first 40 accredited cosmetic dentists in the world. He practiced cosmetic dentistry in Iowa, and in 1990 earned his accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is now president of Infinity Dental Web, a company in Mesa, Arizona that does advanced internet marketing for dentists.
