Toothbrush Questions - Ask "Latsa" questions...
- Toothbrush Questions: How long does it take toothbrushes to dry on a day with normal humidity?
- Toothbrush Questions: Why is it important to air-dry the toothbrushes?
- Toothbrush Questions: Aren't the cute colorful plastic caps good to use over the bristles of the toothbrush?
- Toothbrush Questions: How should I handle a toothbrush that a child has dropped on the floor?
- Toothbrush Questions: Should I replace a toothbrush that a child has dropped on the floor?
- Toothbrush Questions: Should I replace a toothbrush when a child returns to class after being ill?
- Toothbrush Questions: How should I instruct children to care for their toothbrushes after each use?
- Toothbrush Questions: I have heard that toothbrushes should be disinfected with chlorine bleach or running them through the dishwasher. Is that a good method to keep from having to replace toothbrushes so often?
- Toothbrush Questions: Should children be encouraged to remove their brush from the toothbrush holder?
- Toothbrush Questions: Is cross-contamination a concern in toothbrush storage?
- Toothbrush Questions: If my classroom has a problem with creepy crawlers (insects), what should I do to prevent them from crawling on the toothbrushes after hours?
Answers
- Brushes on a normal day take about 12 hours to completely dry because of the density and softness of the bristles.
- Because bacteria from the mouth remain on the brush after use. These bacteria are not eliminated when the brush is rinsed. Most bacteria are destroyed when oxygen in the air reaches them.
- Water combines with germs from the hands and gravitates to the lowest point on the brush when it is placed in the toothbrush holder.
- No, because bacteria from the mouth remain on the brush after use. These bacteria are not eliminated when the brush is rinsed. In fact, they incubate and multiply in the dark, damp, & warm environment that the cap provides. Some childcare centers have been attracted to these colorful plastic caps. Please be aware that the use of these caps, or any caps on the toothbrushes, will not allow the toothbrushes to dry regardless of how many holes are in the cap. There is just not enough air circulation inside of the caps to quickly and thoroughly dry the bristles.
- It is best to be safe. Dispose of the toothbrush and replace it.
- Yes. The illness might have been in the incubation stage when the child last used it.
- Rinse the toothbrush, remove all the toothpaste and place in a toothbrush holder where it can air-dry thoroughly.
- No, putting the toothbrush in hot water in the dishwasher or under the faucet, will reduce the life of the brush. Bleaching the toothbrush leaves a chlorine residue on the bristles which affects the taste the next time the brush is used.
- No, the possibility of touching or taking the wrong toothbrush is too great. The toothbrush should be removed and replaced by an adult.
- Yes, adequate space should be maintained between toothbrushes in order to reduce the possibility of cross-contamination.
- Place the toothbrush holders in the screen bag cover that has been designed specifically for that purpose. These covers allow the necessary air-drying and prevent contamination by the insects.