If you share a bathroom with others, take care of your toothbrush!

It's no secret that toothbrushes are not the cleanest items in the world, and we here at Mega Curious have even posted a story - which you can check through this link - in which we list some nasty little things that can be found in these utensils. .

For a recent study by scientists at the American Society of Microbiology confirmed the bad reputation of toothbrushes. According to Andy Campbell of The Huffington Post, the researchers analyzed the student brushes at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, which share bathrooms with other students.

They found that 60% of all brushes analyzed contained faecal coliforms - which are bacteria present in large amounts in faeces. What's worse is that the survey also pointed out that in the case of shared toilets, there is an 80% chance that the coliforms that will stop in the toothbrushes will come from other people's feces. Ew!

Strange Coliforms

According to Andy, these bacteria can be found everywhere and are part of our lives. The problem, however, is that other people's fecal coliforms can act as vectors for the transmission of potentially pathogenic organisms. In other words, other people's poop can be bad for you.

As the researchers explained, the presence of their own fecal coliforms on their toothbrush is not a big problem. On the other hand, when this object is contaminated with someone else's coliforms, they can expose your body to viruses, bacteria or parasites that are not part of your intestinal flora.

Protect your brush

The researchers said it was no use dipping the toothbrush in hot, cold water or mouthwash to get rid of coliforms. Also, protecting these utensils with lids and covers only makes things worse, as we are thus creating a humid environment conducive to the proliferation of bacteria. But there are a few things we can do to avoid the risk that our brushes will make us sick.

According to Andy, the American Dental Association recommends that brushes be rinsed with plenty of water after brushing, and that they should be left upright to dry in a well - ventilated place. If more than one brush is stored in the same area, care must be taken to ensure that they do not touch each other and thus to prevent contamination.

Also, don't forget the basics: brushes should be changed every three to four months, and should not be shared with anyone, as this will prevent the exchange of microorganisms and body fluids between different users.