How To Clean An Electric Toothbrush

By Philip Yiga | July 13, 2015

Today, most patients are recommended by dentists to use electric-toothbrushes due to a number of reasons. In fact, electric-toothbrushes are better than manual toothbrushes because powered-toothbrushes feature brush-heads that vibrate, oscillate and even rotate so as to clean the teeth, gums and other hard-to-clean areas. However, taking care of an electric-toothbrush is very important because it keep bacteria away from the mouth thus ensuring optimum oral-health results.

On the other hand, there are 2-parts to consider when cleaning an electric toothbrush. These include the brush-head and electric-handle so it’s very important to ensure that both parts are cleaned in order to ensure proper oral-health. However, some toothbrushes come as a one-piece toothbrush and other come as a two-piece toothbrush but I’m going to provide the steps you can use to clean 2-piece toothbrush below:

RELATED: What Is The Best Electric Toothbrush

 

1. HOW TO CLEAN AN ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH HEAD:

 

• Disconnect the brush-head from the handle: begin by removing the brush-head from the toothbrush-handle immediately after brushing so that you can be able to clean the brush-head easily.

• Rinse the brush-head: try to thoroughly rinse the toothbrush-head in clean water immediately after brushing in order to get rid of excess toothpaste and other debris from the mouth which got stuck onto the bristles.

• Clean the base of the brush-head: after rinsing the bristles, try to wipe the base of the brush-head with a clean white-cloth dipped in a bleach-solution in order to remove any toothpaste that may have moved under this toothbrush-head.

• Soak the toothbrush-head for at least once a month: you should try to soak the brush-head in a solution of bleach and water for about an hour every month. This will help to thoroughly clean the bristles thus ensuring a healthy brushing experience. Rinse the toothbrush-head as usual.

• Dry your brush-head: finish by drying the brush-head by shaking it and after use a dry cloth to get rid of any remaining water then attach it back onto the handle for next usage. However, in case you notice that toothbrush-head bristles are starting to splay open, then just acquire a new brush-head or toothbrush for a one-piece electric-toothbrush.

 

2. HOW TO CLEAN AN ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH HANDLE:

 

• Detach the handle for the brush-head: begin by removing the handle from the brush handle in case you have a 2-piece electric-toothbrush. This will enable you to thoroughly clean all the sections on the handle.

• Don’t place the handle into water: because a toothbrush-handle is an electric-appliance, you should not submerge it in any form of liquid like water or water-based solution.

• Wipe the handle with a damp cloth: dampen a small portion of a white clean-cloth using bleach and water mixture. Begin to clean the outer-section of the handle until you notice that the handle is clean.

• Clean the top section of the handle: dip a small piece of cotton-swab into a bleach and water mixture and then start to clean the upper section where the toothbrush-head attaches to the handle in case you a have a 2-piece electric-toothbrush.

• Dry the handle: get a dry piece of cloth and remove any remaining moisture on the toothbrush handle then finish by attaching this handle back onto the brush-head in order to prepare the toothbrush for the next brushing experience.

 

TIPS TO CONSIDER INORDER TO KEEP YOUR ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH CLEAN AND SAFE:

• The brush-head of the electric-toothbrush should be replaced as often as you would with a manual toothbrush. In fact, it is recommended to change brush-head every 3-4 months depending on the make and brand of the electric-toothbrush you have. Additionally, taking long without changing the brush-head can actually cause serious oral problems like damaging the gums and a less effective brushing routine.
• Clean the brush-head of a powered-toothbrush regularly in order to remove any toothpaste and bacteria that are left on it after brushing. This will help to hinder the development of plaque and bacteria within the mouth hence achieving a more effective brushing experience.
• Clean the toothbrush-handle by simply wiping it with damp cloth in order to avoid toothpaste and saliva build-up which can be offer a perfect ground for bacteria development. However, never wash or rinse that handle because it an electric-appliance and it can be affected greatly by fluids accessing the internal sections.
• Try to change the brush-head of your electric-toothbrush after healing from any serious illness in order to avoid an infection that can be caused by the bacteria that hide in the brush-head bristles. So it highly recommended acquiring a new brush-head immediately for best results.
• Don’t share your electric-toothbrush heads with anyone else because you will actually get and spread serious oral-diseases which are not good. In fact, it’s recommended to store youth toothbrush a distance away from the other person’s toothbrush in order to avoid oral-problem associated to sharing toothbrushes.
• Try to check the user’s manual that comes with the electric-toothbrush in order to know how to use it, clean and how often you should charge the toothbrush battery. This will help you to maintain the electric-toothbrush in perfect condition for a longer period of time.
• Consider covering the toothbrush when travelling: try to place your electric-toothbrush in a travel case or holder while travelling in order to keep it clean. In fact, if you travel with the toothbrush uncovered it will pick-up dirt, dust and bacteria which can be harmful to your oral-health. However, don’t store your toothbrush in its holder when at home because a chronically moist environment can actually promote bacteria growth. Additionally, it’s recommended to store a toothbrush in a holder or case with small-holes in order to let air-in.
• Store your toothbrush upright in cup or holder because this will allow it to dry. Likewise, try using a toothbrush-holder with several with several openings in order to keep multiple toothbrushes separated from each other.
• Consider sanitizing your toothbrush: there are actually many toothbrush-sanitizers available on the market today but it good looks for a sanitizer that has been approved by food and drug administration for reducing bacterial contamination that occurs naturally on toothbrushes. on the other hand, never try to clean a toothbrush by placing it in dishwasher or microwave because high-temperatures can damage toothbrushes.