Ugly Truth about your Tooth brush

The toothbrush is an oral hygiene instrument used to clean the teeth and gums that consists of a head of tightly clustered bristles mounted on a handle, which facilitates the cleansing of hard-to-reach areas of the mouth.
Toothpaste, which often contains fluoride, is commonly used in conjunction with a toothbrush to increase the effectiveness of tooth brushing. Toothbrushes are available with different bristle textures, sizes and forms. Most dentist recommend using toothbrush labelled "soft", since hard bristled toothbrushes can damage tooth enamel and irritate the gums.
It is not recommended to share toothbrushes with others since besides general hygienic concerns there is a risk of transmitting diseases that are typically transmittable by blood, such as Hepatitis C^.
After use it is advisable to rinse the toothbrush with water, shake it off and let the toothbrush dry.
Bent and worn out bristles of a toothbrush lead to decreased cleaning efficiency. It is therefore recommended to change it for a new one when it appears to be worn out (roughly after 6–16 weeks).

Do You Know What's Lurking on Your Toothbrush?

Your toothbrush is home to more than 100 million bacteria including E. coli and staphylococci (Staph) bacteria, according to researchers at the University of Manchester in England. And the University of Alabama at Birmingham found that fecal germs were on your toothbrushes too.
All that sounds gross, but you needn't panic. Your mouth is also full of bacteria and your toothbrush probably won't make you sick, but there are ways to keep it clean so you stay healthy.

Most of these germs already exist in your mouth so you probably won't get sick from them. However, if others use your toothbrush (or you use someone else's) germs can be spread.
The thing to worry about is recurring illness. "When your resistance is low, that's when this becomes clinically important," he says. "In essence, you are re-infecting yourself," says Glass.

Could Your Toothbrush Be Making You Sick?

You probably won't get an infection from your own toothbrush. Even if your brush is covered in bacteria, your immune system can usually take care of any bacterial invaders. However, you should still care for your toothbrush properly and keep it clean. The following slides discuss some ways to care for and store your toothbrush properly to minimize the chance of illness.

Don't Brush Where You Flush

Where you store your toothbrush in your bathroom is important. In most bathrooms, the toilet is very close to the sink, where most people keep their toothbrushes. Every time you flush, bacteria are released into the air – and you don't want that bacteria to get on your toothbrush.
"It's just common sense to store your toothbrush as far away from the toilet as possible," says McCombs. Keep it in a medicine cabinet if possible, and always close the toilet lid before flushing to minimize the spread of bacteria onto your toothbrush.

Toothbrush Holders

Toothbrush holders as well can pick up bacteria that are spread by toilet flushing. A study by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) found that toothbrush holders are the third-most germy household items (behind dish sponges and kitchen sinks). Remember to clean your toothbrush holder regularly to remove germs.

Toothbrush Storage Tips

After you've moved your toothbrush as far from the toilet as possible, and cleaned your toothbrush holder, here are some storage tips to keep your toothbrush as germ-free as possible:

• Rinse your toothbrush thoroughly with tap water every time you use it.
• Let your toothbrush dry thoroughly between brushings. Don't use toothbrush covers, which can create a moist enclosed breeding ground for bacteria.
• Keep your toothbrush upright in a holder, rather than lying it down.
• Don't ever use anyone else's toothbrush, or let someone use yours.
• Keep toothbrushes separate. If toothbrushes touch they can swap germs.

source:medicinenet.com