Brushing your teeth once or twice a day is a regular part of everyone’s daily routine. The bathroom sink is the usual place that this occurs.
However, if you have young children or a large family and you live in a single bathroom home, the kitchen is another place this daily ritual can happen.
But should this happen?
So, Is It Sanitary To Brush Your Teeth In The Kitchen Sink?
It is not necessarily unhygienic. Your kitchen’s hygiene is a matter of how you keep it clean you keep it. After brushing your teeth, just make sure you clean and disinfect the kitchen sink and countertops.
Is It Your Mouth Or The Dirty Dishes?
First of all, many people who are concerned about their kitchen hygiene believe that the mouth carries a lot of microbes and they fear that brushing your teeth in the kitchen sink, will contaminate the sink.
Actually, it is the dirty dishes, leftover foods, and washing sponges that carry more germs than your mouth.
Think about the dirt that you wash off food items like vegetables, meat, or fish in the kitchen sink.
This is a potential source of contamination that should be more concerning than brushing the teeth.
Yet there is another group who are worried about disease transmission.
There are indeed diseases that are transmissible through saliva and sputum. For instance, herpes, hepatitis B, and flu are highly transmissible through body fluids.
However, these diseases are generally only possible to acquire through sharing of toothbrushes, kissing, or sneezing than through brushing teeth in the kitchen sink.
Moreover, toothpaste has antibacterial components such as copolymer or triclosan which can destroy most bacteria in your mouth.
Three Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Brush Your Teeth In The Kitchen Sink
There are good reasons why sometimes it is not acceptable to brush your teeth in the kitchen sink.
1. Social Acceptance
First of all, most people find this habit to be pretty gross and morally unacceptable.
Depending on where you were brought up, it is ill-manners to brush in the kitchen.
While in some other cultures it is a nonissue especially in communities where the bathroom is not used for oral hygiene thus, making it a choice to brush in the kitchen sink.
But for whatever reason you do, it is a bit odd to spit in the sink where you put your utensils.
2. Dirty Water
Generally, the sink is where you clean your dishes.
So, it is not unimaginable that your kitchen sink can accumulate a lot of dirt.
The idea is to avoid storing your toothpaste or toothbrush near the kitchen sink. It can easily be contaminated by dirty water in the sink.
It is even more concerning if you’re sink has a garbage disposal. Dirty food debris can find their way to your toothbrush and contaminate it.
3. Roommates
If you are using a communal kitchen, some of your roommates may not tolerate your habit of brushing in the kitchen.
Furthermore, some people are lazy and often keep the sink full of dirty dishes and cutlery. It is disgusting to spit all over other people’s utensils notwithstanding the dirt.
Besides all that, there is no major issue when it comes to hygiene as long as you clean the sink after use and avoid piling dirty dishes.
If you are worried about diseases, well, you are more likely to develop ailments from filthy dishes than brushing your teeth in the sink.
Seven Mistakes To Avoid When Storing Your Toothbrush
Once you are done brushing your teeth, the next thing to focus on is choosing the right place to keep your toothbrush.
Knowing how to store your toothbrush reduces the chances of picking contaminants from the surrounding.
Here are common mistakes you should avoid when storing your toothbrush:
1. Keeping It Near Your Trash Can
Trash can carry a lot of refuse with some already decomposing. It is unhygienic as germs can find their way to your brush.
2. Keeping It Close To The Commode
There is a big chance that water will splash on your toothbrush when you are taking shower and when you flush the toilet.
3. Not Covering Brush Head
You can avoid most of these issues by putting a cover on your toothbrush.
4. Keeping All Toothbrushes Together
Don’t jam toothbrushes in one place. Each brush should have its holder.
5. Not Cleaning Your Toothbrush Holder
Make sure you clean the toothbrush cup or holder as regularly as possible to prevent building up bacteria.
Also, ensure that nothing dirty touches your toothbrush.
6. Keeping Your Toothbrush Flat On The Counter
The best way to store your toothbrush is to keep it upright to dry. A wet toothbrush breeds bacteria.
7. Sharing Your Toothbrush
You shouldn’t share your toothbrush with anyone, not even your spouse, and most importantly not with your kids.
References
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16914-oral-hygiene
