How Dirty Is Your Toothbrush?

Toothbrushes may harbor illness-causing bacteria, but the way you store and care for your brush may influence its bacterial load significantly.

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

• Your toothbrush serves as a reservoir for microorganisms and becomes contaminated with infectious organisms soon after its initial use

• In both healthy people and those with oral disease, pathogenic bacteria and viruses were detected on toothbrushes, including E. coli and herpes simplex virus

• One study found heavy contamination with pathog…