00:00If you have recently fallen ill with a cold or the flu, you may be on a mission to get
00:04rid of germs by wiping down and disinfecting household surfaces and washing sheets and towels.
00:10But there's one item you shouldn't neglect, your toothbrush.
00:13Should you replace it after an illness? Absolutely.
00:16Considering germs can live on a toothbrush between 24 hours and a few weeks, there's a small chance you could
00:22get reinfected, says the HuffPost.
00:25Replace it, especially if you share the bathroom with other people.
00:28In that case, make sure you're storing your toothbrush separately to avoid contamination, says Insider.
00:34Stick to the same toothbrush while you're sick. It won't prolong the illness.
00:38But once you're through with it, get rid of it.
00:41Be careful with the toothpaste. If you share it with others, you may want to use your own.
00:46It may sound counterintuitive, but don't cover your toothbrush head.
00:50Although it may seem like a safe way to keep germs confined, it's actually making room for more bacteria to
00:55grow due to lack of oxygen.
00:57Dr. Harvey Karp told the HuffPost, the majority of bacteria that live on your toothbrush die in the presence of
01:03oxygen.
01:04So let it breathe.
01:05Remember to replace your toothbrush every three to four months, per the American Dental Association,
01:11and replace it or thoroughly disinfect it after being sick.
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