Covid-19 has made us all super aware of cleanliness, with special attention being made to the hygiene practices in our daily lives. 

We are sanitising our desks, frequently washing our clothes, wiping down our food items after a shop, social distancing, wearing masks and more!

But have you thought about how daily hygiene practices can directly relate to your teeth and mouth health?

Read our top Covid hygiene tips to ensure proper cleanliness throughout your entire brushing routine, from the toothbrush to the toilet!

 

Never Share a Toothbrush

Not sharing your toothbrush seems like a no brainer, but it’s actually more common than you think. Especially if it’s your spouse or partner. 

It’s important never to share a toothbrush with anyone, no matter how close they are to you. This is because toothbrushes can carry a lot of bacteria on them and viruses can spread from person to person, especially if you’ve recently been sick or get cold sores. 

Using your own toothbrush not only prevents the spread of germs and bacteria, but also prevents the bristles from breaking down too fast. 

Did you know that when storing your toothbrush, you should also make sure the bristles aren’t touching another brush!  

Using your own toothbrush and changing it every 3 months will make your teeth thank you!

 

Close the Toilet Lid Before you Flush

When flushing the toilet, tiny droplets of water can spray up to 5 metres in the air!

This means that loads of bacteria and viruses could potentially be landing on your bathroom surfaces, including on your toothbrush… yuck! 

Closing your toilet lid before you flush is a good habit to get into so that you can make sure no unwanted germs are landing anywhere in your bathroom. 

It’s also especially important because some research suggests that Covid-19 could possibly be spread by fecal-oral transmission.

So don’t forget to close the lid and make sure everyone in your household does the same!

 

Clean your Bathroom Regularly

Similar to our point above, when a toilet flushes there are loads of particles that could be flying into the air and landing on things such as surfaces, towels, mirrors, etc. 

It’s a good general rule of thumb to keep your bathroom tidy and clean it regularly to remove any naturally occurring germs from the surfaces that you touch. 

Bathrooms can get very dirty, especially if multiple people are sharing one, so it’s a good idea to keep things tidy so you’re not exposed to bad germs when brushing. 

A regularly cleaned bathroom limits the growth of germs and bacteria and not only creates a pleasant environment for your wellbeing, but also for your health! 

 

Say No to Midnight Snacking

Sometimes it can be tempting to have an evening snack after you’ve already got ready for bed and brushed your teeth. 

There’s also research to suggest that lockdowns are contributing to increased snacking known as ‘lockdown eating’, as people often turn to junk foods when stressed or anxious. 

And although you may have already brushed your teeth, eating something else afterwards means you need to brush again before bed. 

Sugars are especially high in snacking foods and can cause dental erosion leading to cavities and other health problems if not treated.

Make sure that if you do snack, you remember to brush your teeth before going to bed!

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At the end of the day, proper oral hygiene doesn’t just come from remembering to brush and floss. It’s important to make sure your environment is also clean and that you don’t get into any bad habits, such as midnight snacking, that can affect your teeth. 

Read our previous blog about 10 Tips for a Healthier Smile. 

Sources:

Oral Health Foundation

Colgate

Forbes