Find a good place away from the toilet and as far away from splashing water as you can. You can invest in a wall-mounted toothbrush holder or a holder with a lid (as long as there is enough airflow to dry the toothbrush!) or use the medicine cabinet.
Bacteria can easily grow on toothbrushes, so it's important to store them in a clean, dry place. The best way to do this is to use a protective case in your suitcase or toiletry bag. But DO take your brush out of the case and allow it to air dry between uses wherever you're visiting.
While you should leave your toothbrush on your bathroom counter, keep it away from your toilet's vicinity. Your toothbrush is more likely to be exposed to fecal bacteria that's splashed into the air when you flush your toilet.
The best solution is to keep your toothbrush in a corner of your bathroom away from the sink & toilet. If you're strapped for space, you can get a wall-mounted toothbrush holder to place high enough to avoid any splashing from the sink.
Toothbrush storage ideas
The best toothbrush storage location is a space where you can keep your toothbrush upright so it can dry out fairly quickly. A cup or toothbrush holder with a toothbrush lid will give each toothbrush enough air space to dry without contaminating each other.
Where to Store Your Toothbrush. Probably the best place to store your toothbrush is on a shelf in your bedroom, or, if you store it in the bathroom, in a far corner, safely away from the toilet and the sink. You might also store it in a large closet where it is cool and dry.
Store toothbrush upright, not lying down, either inside of a cabinet or underneath the sink in a closed cabinet. Be sure that air can fully circulate around the brush head so that it can completely air dry, you don't want the bristles to retain any moisture.
Your hot, humid shower is the kind of environment that bacteria loves. So storing your toothbrush in there around the clock is a bad idea according to Craig, “Because it gives bacteria plenty of time to accumulate and grow while it's being stored in there.”
There are 10 million bacteria on every single toothbrush
A recent study by the University of Manchester showed that toothbrushes can accumulate more than 10 million bacteria, which is more than the bacteria found in a toilet seat (50 per square inch) or in a public lavatory floor (2 million per square inch).
Take a minute to learn if brushing as you bathe is safe for your smile. Proponents of brushing in the shower say it's not as messy, which may be true on a person-to-person basis. They also often claim it saves water and time, reasoning brushing while rinsing off or waiting for conditioner to set is more efficient.
First, you should rinse your brush to get it good and clean for brushing. But, more importantly, this will help soften your bristles to prevent them from being too abrasive on your teeth and gums. Then, after tucking a pea-sized amount of toothpaste onto its bristle bed, you should quickly wet your bristles again.
Avoid storing your toothbrush in a plastic ziploc bag, even while traveling. There should be at least some ventilation given, especially if the toothbrush is packed up while it is still damp. The warm and enclosed area will take longer to dry, giving bacteria a greater chance to grow.
I store toothbrushes and toothpaste in a drawer with a plastic liner that is easily removed to be sanitized as needed. You could also use a drawer divider tray or put a toothbrush holder inside a cabinet to keep the counters clear and toothbrushes clean.
Toothbrush time
If you've stayed at his place three weekends in a row, that's a routine. His place is now your home away from home one night a week. Even if you alternate between his place and yours, the third time is still the charm. He won't mind if you use his toothbrush the first time.
The cosmetic dentist explained to The Sun: "If you wet the toothbrush before you put the toothpaste on, you're diluting it. "Toothpaste already has the right amount of moisture. If it's wet, it makes it foam up faster and makes you spit it out sooner."
Don't rinse your mouth immediately after brushing, as it'll wash away the concentrated fluoride in the remaining toothpaste.
The Importance of a Clean Toothbrush
If you don't clean your toothbrush, bacteria and germs can grow and multiply on the bristles. Gross!
Your mouth is home to millions of bacteria so cleaning your toothbrush makes sense if you want to prevent illness. You should be cleaning your toothbrush every week and it is also wise to keep a supply of new toothbrushes on hand so you can readily replace the old one every three months.
“The average person should be swapping out for a new toothbrush every three to four months,” explains Dr. Sienna Palmer, DDS, dentist at Meridien Dental in Santa Monica, CA. “This is recommended to ensure that the bristles are still effective and bacteria accumulation on the toothbrush is minimal.”
Let it dry completely.
The bacteria that live on a toothbrush after you use it are considered anaerobic — meaning they will die in the presence of oxygen. So, if you let your toothbrush air dry, it will take care of most bacteria.
If you need to cover your toothbrush for travel, there's a right way to accomplish the task. The ADA recommends that you dry the head of a toothbrush with a clean cloth or paper towel by gently squeezing the brush. This will allow you to force out the moisture without breaking or damaging the bristles.
Use and Replace
In the event of illness such as cold or flu, a toothbrush should be replaced immediately following the illness, even if the brush was new. Germs and viruses can live on the toothbrush head for weeks and holding onto it after illness increases the reintroduction of that bacteria into your mouth.