Fecal matter on my toothbrush?? OH MY GOSH!!
By happymommy3
@happymommy3 (2012)
United States
March 20, 2007 9:40pm CST
My brother mentioned this to me a few days ago because of something he had seen on t.v. before and it freaked me out. I have never thought of this but when you think about it, it is very true how it can happen! I even searched online to see if there was studies on it and there is! I searched on yahoo and found alot of studies on this. One study showed that flushing the toilet can send microscopic particles six feet into the air. It went on to say though that while studies have found fecal matter on toothbrushes, don't freak out yet. Unless your immune system is severely compromised, your natural defenses will take care of you. So, that didn't make me feel too much better about this, so since hearing and reading about all this I have been keeping mine and my family's toothbrushes in the medicine cabinet.
9 people like this
24 responses
@DeaXyza (577)
• United States
21 Mar 07
The best way is to close the toilet seat cover and then flush! Easier done than trying to keep the brushes away! Yes it is very much true which is why it is often said to soak the toothbrush in hot water for 2 mins before you brush .... 1 is it kills all the harmful bacteria 2 is it will soften the bristles.
1 person likes this
@happymommy3 (2012)
• United States
21 Mar 07
I always do the same and teach my kids to do the same with their toothbrushes before they brush. Thanks:)
1 person likes this
@quatelmon (955)
• United States
22 Mar 07
I was going to type the same thing that the first poster wrote about with the show "Mythbusters." There is stuff like that all in the air and everywhere. I've found that it's better just not too think about it and live your life. If you think about this kind of stuff all the time, you'll drive yourself crazy!!!
They "Mythbusters" show also stated that urine is a sterile solution. So, while stinky, it won't really hurt or infect you.
1 person likes this
@happymommy3 (2012)
• United States
22 Mar 07
Oh I agree. It will make you crazy if you're always worried about this kind of stuff. I usually don't but when it's brought to my attention or I see a show like this it will remind me again and drive me nuts for awhile and freak me out like just before I posted this discussion, lol, but eventually I forget "just a little" about it and then calm down a bit.
@ellanick (191)
• Philippines
21 Mar 07
it is true, so dont put your toothbrush in the toilet because of the many small particles that carrying the bacteria. its better to put your toothbrush in the medicine cabinet to make it sure that it didn't get the bacteria and always change your toothbrush 2-3 mos everytime. happy brushing!
1 person likes this
@happymommy3 (2012)
• United States
21 Mar 07
I hope you meant on the toilet, not in the toilet! Yes, good idea, to change it often. I do mine about once a month, as well as my whole family. Thanks, and happy brushing to you also:)
@steney (1418)
• Philippines
21 Mar 07
My dad told me that ages ago, that certain fecal particles go to the exposed toothbrushes placed in the bathroom or even gets stuck in the nostril when one flushes the toilet. I make it a habit to cover the toilet seat before flushing so as not to have the germs all over the place. I also keep our toothbrushes in a sealed container to keep it away from too much bacteria.
1 person likes this
@happymommy3 (2012)
• United States
21 Mar 07
Eeww! I've never heard that, bacteria getting stuck in the nostril but I get how though. Thanks:)
@ladycatherine82 (29)
• United States
21 Mar 07
That's really disturbing and it makes me glad that I keep my tootbrush in my room. I've always been paranoid about anything happening to it or someone fooling around with it. Don't ask. I'm a little paranoid about those things.
1 person likes this
@happymommy3 (2012)
• United States
21 Mar 07
Well, you're not the only one, so don't feel alone! lol... It is disturbing but there are things to do about it so keeping it in your room can be a good idea too. Thanks:)
@happymommy3 (2012)
• United States
21 Mar 07
Ooooohh! I would think people would be smarter than that! That's just gross to have your toothbrush even that close to the toilet! Thanks for responding:)
@coolcatzz (1587)
• Canada
22 Mar 07
LOL yup that's gross for sure. I have never heard of that but in the last few weeks I heard somewhere that you should never leave your toothbrush in a toothbrush holder near the sink (like I do) because they are exposed to a lot of germs just from people using the sink. Never thought of the toilet
though.
1 person likes this
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
21 Mar 07
Oh wow I have never heard such a thing that the fecal matter can go six feet into the air, and lucky for us anyway that our toothbrushes are not in the same room as the toilet, but when they were I never got any infections from this, but I will make sure if they are in the same room that in future that I keep the toothbrush in the medicine cabinet. Thanks for your information regarding this.
1 person likes this
@michelledarcy (5220)
•
21 Mar 07
I have heard of this. Fortunately my families toothbrushes are kept in the bathroom away from the toilet as they are in separate rooms. If this wasn't the case I would try to keep them covered. I also teach my children to shut the lid of the toilet when they flush it so the germs aren't spread everywhere.
1 person likes this
@happymommy3 (2012)
• United States
21 Mar 07
Yes, that is good to teach your kids that. I also have taught my kids to do the same. I saw that on the oprah winfrey show once about the awful germs that jump out of the toilet every time we flush it. Thanks:)
@mmiller26 (1930)
• Canada
21 Mar 07
The show "Mythbusters" ran a program about this. And they showed that it doesn't really matter where you put your toothbrush. Bacteria still gets on it. And considering that your mouth is the single biggest breeding ground for bacteria on your body, you're kind of starting out badly before you do anything with it. You could try microwaving your toothbrush (just make sure it's wet!) for 2 minutes to kill the bacteria. This works for sponges and towels as well. As long as the items have water on them, when you microwave them they won't burn but the heat is intense enough to kill even tough disease-causing bacteria. Or you could simply replace your toothbrush. Often. You could keep it in another room (I keep mine in the pantry outside the bathroom).
1 person likes this
@happymommy3 (2012)
• United States
21 Mar 07
Well thanks to you for that great advice. I have heard of doing that with your kitchen sponge but didn't know you could do that with your toothbrush. I feel better just replacing it though with a new one. I replace it once a month. That is a good idea to keep it out of the bathroom as some responses below have mentioned also that the bathroom is a breeding place for bacteria. Thanks:)
@domesticengineer (576)
• Philippines
22 Mar 07
Eeewwww. That's really disgusting. Luckily, our toothbrush are placed not inside our comfort rooms. I've heard about this also but never gave too much attention and now that I have the full details about this all I can say is, yuck I can't imagine this.
1 person likes this
@greylady (153)
• United States
22 Mar 07
I never really thought about it but I keep my toothbrush in a jar with a lid on it in the kitchen cabinet where I keep the meds I have to take. I'm bad at remembering things and I take meds every morning so my toothbrush is right there where I can see it.
Maybe I will find somewhere else to keep my towels and wash cloths. I don't think I can use a towel that has been kept in the bathroom any more. That would be kind of like putting the germs back on after taking a shower.
1 person likes this
@bluemestizo (429)
• United States
22 Mar 07
It's a good thing I keep my toothbrush inside a container and keep it inside the cabinet so that it is not exposed near the toilet and I have read an article like that back then. Thanks for the reminder and input.
1 person likes this
@frogboots (93)
• United States
22 Mar 07
How long have you been brushing you teeth? Have you noticed a decrease in you health due to brushing you teeth? I know yeah that is gross don't get me wrong, but really think about it in logic. Keep the toilet seat closed when flushing the toilet.
1 person likes this
@primecrimson (1388)
• Philippines
21 Mar 07
This topic really shocked the soul out of me. I just don't know this before. I guess I am right of not putting my toothbrush in my comfort room. I just don't like the idea of putting it in there.
Well realizing the things that might happen after reading this information I guess I need to put a cover to my toothbrush. Just in case, I will never have to worry of it's safety.
1 person likes this
@hellboi (661)
• Philippines
21 Mar 07
So i've read somewhere, I just forgot from which article, that it is advisable that you place your toothbrushes at least six feet away from the toilet bowl since flushing the latter would send out some particles into the air which would settle down to anything around the area including your toothbrushes. Good thing if you have your own bathroom but if you do share it with other people, that would be gross.
1 person likes this
@spiritwolf52 (2300)
•
21 Mar 07
I had heard something about this regarding germs and bacteria. Well, simple solution is, put the lid down before you flush! I harp on my hubby all the time. It does make sense when you think about it. Lid down, then flush, quite simple really.
1 person likes this
@jojopuff (520)
• United States
21 Mar 07
I have heard of this before, but a quick way to get rid of the problem is to close the lid when you flush. The particles of water that hold all the bacteria don't just get on your toothbrush. They get on towels, the floor, the walls, etc as well, basically anything within 10 to 15 feet. This is why I always close the lid when I flush the toilet, because that is just nasty!
1 person likes this
@carmella (496)
• United States
21 Mar 07
I saw this on Mythbusters, they ran test on a tooth brush fresh from the package too, and even it had fecal matter on it. I question if it is actually fecal matter showing up or if it could be some chemical that resembels fecal matter. Sounds weird I know, but mistakes like that happen all the time.
However, the part about the particles going airborne when you flush a toilet is very true and is why I always close the lid on the toilet before flushing. I wonder if that keeps it all contained though, seems stuff could still escape out the gaps in the seat.
I grossed out on all this when I watched that episode of Mythbusters. That is a sick thought that our tooth brush contains what appears to be fecal matter on them, YUK!
1 person likes this
@retardedrugrat (4791)
• Canada
21 Mar 07
I have never heard of this before and it's enough to make me go into the bathroom right now and move the toothbrushes from the side of the sink LOL.
I have them there because the kids can reach them in a morning and night without our help. They're not yet tall enough to get into the medicine cabinet affixed to the wall above the sink.
However, I already knew that our mouths are the single biggest breeding ground for bacteria in our bodies, so as soon as the toothbrush goes into the mouth, it has bacteria attached to it.
I think the best solution would be to just replace the toothbrushes and often at that. I usually replace them once every 2 months, but I think I may start doing it every month from now on, just to be sure.
Thanks for sharing this with us!
1 person likes this
