advice: sharing a toothbrush is gross, not the same as kissing
kissing 'bathes' germs in saliva (yum) whereas brushing scrubs someone else's germs into your mouth, says expert.
jun 12 2020
3 minute read
sharing a toothbrush spreads germs. duh. stock/getty
dear asking for a friend,
my partner and i have been together for more than 10 years and like a true couple, we share everything. but there’s one thing we can’t agree on to share: toothbrushes. he uses an electric toothbrush most of the time, but occasionally when he is in a rush, he uses mine. which i find really disgusting. i only found out after noticing that my brush was wet before i had brushed my teeth in the morning. when i asked, he very nonchalantly said that he had been using it for months! gross. i couldn’t even express fully my anger because i was dry heaving. then he got offended because it seemed like i was grossed out by him. he kept going on about how we kiss and stuff, so isn’t it the same thing? so i want to clarify that sharing toothbrushes is just yuck, no matter how well you know someone. just for the record, i now hide my toothbrush.
signed, still feeling nauseous
dear still feeling nauseous,
any dentist will tell you that a toothbrush can be a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. if not stored and cleaned properly, these germs end up in your mouth, making you more susceptible to infection and disease. and while you may swap spit with your partner, sharing bristles that are packed with food debris, plague and tartar can be bad for your health.
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“it’s generally not a good idea to share a toothbrush,” says dr. lesli hapak, president at the ontario dental association . “when brushing your teeth, bacteria and viruses get stirred up and can stay on your toothbrush. exposing your gums to unfamiliar bacteria and viruses other than your own may create a problem. bacteria cause things like gingivitis and gum disease and viruses can cause things like a cold, the flu and herpes.”
turns out being repulsed by your partner’s germs is completely justified. studies show that 100 million bacteria can actually live on a toothbrush — more if the brush is located near the toilet. this is because every time you flush the toilet, water particles that are released in the air can contaminate the brush within reach. if you multiply toilet germs by the number of bacteria that live inside the mouth, you’ll get the ugly truth that’s lurking in the bristles. this can be especially worrisome for those with a compromised immune system as they may struggle to fight off disease and infection. when it comes to bacteria and our mouth, less is always more.
and as for kissing? you’re still not off the hook in terms bacterial exchange, but experts advise that it’s less problematic than sharing a toothbrush.
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“when it comes to kissing versus sharing a toothbrush, both activities run the risk of passing on those nasty bugs,” says hapak. “brushing can create more mechanical trauma to the gums from the bristles, (small cuts and bleeding), which provide a portal for bacterial and viral particles to enter the bloodstream. you’re scrubbing someone else’s germs into your own mouth. with kissing, the particles are bathed in saliva and there is less trauma involved.”
the bottom line is that toothbrushes can harbour nasty bacteria that lead to disease, cavities and tooth decay — something we can all do without, especially in a time of pandemic. we all make compromises in our romantic relationship, but sharing a toothbrush shouldn’t be one of them.
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