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From the time we are able to securely hold a toothbrush in our hand we are taught by our parents how to brush our teeth. If we couldn’t perform the task very well our parents would brush our teeth for us to ensure the healthiness of our teeth and gums. Afterwards, our toothbrush may have been placed alongside those of our siblings or even our parents in an open container where bacteria collects on it’s bristles.

One has to marvel at the toothbrush. The first toothbrush that resembles what we use today had its beginnings in China in the late 1400s. It was comprised of stiff hairs from a hog’s neck and attached to a bamboo stick. Now, soft bristles on the “head” of a handle used along with toothpaste to brush off plaque and massage our gums. For the most part, it seems the toothbrush is only used to eliminate left over food from teeth. However, it is a major deterrent of gingivitis (gum disease), the prevention of cavities and periodontal disease which is a cause of at least one-third of adult tooth loss.

Many dentists believe that soft-bristled toothbrushes are the most effective to use since the firmer bristles can damage tooth enamel and irritate the gums. In fact, the tips of hard bristles are like sharp tips that may cause nicks in the gum, allowing bacteria to enter the bloodstream. The soft bristles are considered the most safe and comfortable especially with consideration given to how vigorously you brush your teeth.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, even after brushing and then rinsing your toothbrush contaminated and potentially pathogenic organisms remain on the bristles. We’ve all had lessons on how to brush our teeth, but very few lessons in toothbrush cleaning. Here are some suggestions on how to clean and take care of your toothbrush:

If you keep your toothbrush in a toothbrush protector, ensure it is dry before using the toothbrush protector. Failure to do so may lead to the development of mold on the bristles. Use a toothbrush holder that has holes. This will help with ventilation to prevent mold. Wash your hands before handling your toothbrush. Limit the number of brushes you keep in an open container because they rub together and may spread germs. Wash your toothbrush before and after every use by holding it under running water and rubbing your thumb over it forcefully for five to ten seconds. Deep clean your toothbrush by occasionally placing it in the top rack (any other location, it may melt) of your dishwasher using your normal dishwasher soap.? You can also use boiling water, but be careful of melting the toothbrush. Be mindful to replace your toothbrush every three to four months, this pertains to electric brushes also. Always use toothpaste, it helps in keeping your brush clean. To disinfect your toothbrush, you can store it in a 3% Hydrogen Peroxide solution (change daily, because it turns into water in a matter of hours). In a small cup place your toothbrush with some alcohol based mouthwash, and stir for about thirty seconds. The alcohol in the mouthwash will kill off most bacteria. Consider purchasing a UV (Ultraviolet light) toothbrush cleaner. It is safe and automatically shuts down after operation.

Toothbrush cleaning is something we sometimes take for granted. We use it on a daily basis and place it back in its container not giving a thought to the amount of bacteria floating around in our residence and then how much of it actually finds a place on our exposed toothbrush. These tips not only provide helpful information, but will make you more cognizant that your toothbrush can affect your overall heath more than you realize.

Not too long ago, you spent a lot of the time at the dentist office and were fitted for your new dentures. You’ve waited to receive your new dentures and once you received them, you were amazed at how beautiful and shiny they were. You’ve now had your new dentures for over six months and you’ve notice that they aren’t as shiny as they were when you first got them. You don’t understand this because, you brush them every once in a while and you soak them once every two weeks.

If you had your dentures for any considerable amount of time and you notice discoloring, or that your dentures are not as shiny and clean as they were when you first receive them, then it is important to know about proper denture care. Proper denture care is basically the same care that you would use if you are taking care of your natural teeth. Your dentures need just as much attention as your natural teeth, in order to stay fresh and clean as the day you first receive them.

Proper denture care begins with brushing your dentures at least twice a day. This means brushing your dentures after your first meal of the day, and after your last meal of the day. Brushing your dentures is just as though you were brushing your natural teeth except, you will take your dentures out place them in a bowl of water, using toothpaste and a toothbrush you will proceed to brush your dentures in and around the teeth as well as the tops and bottoms of your pink acrylic plates. This process should be repeated over and over for roughly 2 to 3 minutes.

This procedure will ensure that all foreign material has been cleared away from your dentures, as well as any build up of bacteria or harmful foreign objects. Those things could potentially discolor your dentures as well as make them not fit properly. These procedures are very important if you want to sustain the look and the feel your dentures had when they were new. This should be a daily practice to get used to because this will ensure that your dentures will last a long time. Proper denture care has to be performed on a daily bases in order to provide you with bright and clean false teeth.

The next step in proper denture care is to soak your dentures in a solution that will free up any hidden material that can be caught between the dentures. This will also help with staining or any other foreign material that has embedded itself on your dentures such as coffee, blueberries, or any substance that can discolor your dentures from not being removed properly. Many people forget to do this and as a result, their dentures tend to get discolored and end up not looking fresh and clean. So soaking your dentures every night will ensure that your dentures will look as new as they did the day you purchase them.

The other important fact about proper denture care is when cleaning your dentures daily, you will notice any imperfections or damage that may have been caused to your dentures as a result of something that you either chewed on, or your dentures probably dropped or were mishandled. If you wait long periods of time in between cleanings, in many cases, you will not find out this information until it is too late and your dentures are not fitting properly. This type of care means to clean your dentures and while you’re brushing them, make sure you’re looking for any imperfections are problems that may exist.

Proper denture care also pertains to denture placement when not being used. If your dentures are not placed in a safe place when they are not being used the probability of them getting damaged his very high. So it is very important to make sure your dentures are placed somewhere that they are protected from damage while not being used. In some cases this can be in an enclosure or a place where they cannot fall or be pushed off of a nightstand or a sink counter.

It’s very important to take care of your dentures in order to ensure that they last for a long period of time, and you do not experience any discoloration or imperfections as a result of improper care.