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3 Easy Ways to Keep Thug Bugs From Growing on Your Toothbrush

Have you ever looked at your toothbrush under a microscope?

I have, and it’s pretty freaky when you see all the little goobers that are clinging to the bristles.

A toothbrush is a great place for thug bugs to hang out, just waiting for another chance to recolonize your mouth.

To stop our toothbrush from becoming a petri dish, we simply need to understand the environment that these thug bugs need in order to thrive.

By removing one or more of these conditions, we can rest easy with the knowledge that our toothbrushes are not being used as thug bug nurseries.

Fortunately, it’s really simple to keep our toothbrush free from thug bugs without having to spend any money on those newfangled toothbrush sanitizers.


Getting to know thug bugs…

The bacteria implicated with gum disease are called ‘gram negative bacteria’.

They are anaerobic, which simply means that they thrive in low-oxygen environments.

If we had to describe the perfect space for thug bugs, it would be a warm, dark, moist, low-oxygen environment.  This is why thug bugs grow so well in oral gum pockets.

Knowing this, we can easily stop our toothbrush from being a thug bug sanctuary. All we need to do is remove one or more of the conditions that they require.

Here are three simple strategies you can use to keep your toothbrush germ-free.


1.  Let your toothbrush fully dry out between brushings.

In order to allow your toothbrush to fully dry out before you use it again, you need to have more than one brush and rotate through them during the week.

When we have friends come for a visit, we’re often asked the question, “Why do you guys have so many toothbrushes in your bathroom?”

We each keep several of our awesome Bass brushes in the bathroom, which means we can each use our own brush A on Monday, brush B on Tuesday, then circle back to brush A on Wednesday, etc.

This allows each brush to fully dry out before it’s used again.  Since thug bugs require a moist environment, allowing the brush to dry fully helps to prevent them from living on your brush.

(As a side note, we offer 3- and 5-pack bundles of our Bass toothbrushes for those of you who want to pick up larger quantities with a discount. You can find them here.

And if you aren’t familiar with our awesome brushes, we invite you to check out, “How To Brush Your Teeth To Reduce Gum Disease“, which tells the story of Dr. Bass and explains how to use the Bass brushes.)


2.  Give your brush a sunbath.

Sunlight is a powerful cleaner/disinfectant.  

Leaving your brush on a sunny windowsill for the day will allow it to fully dry and it will also take advantage of the disinfecting power of natural sunlight.

The best part about this strategy is that it’s free. So, you don’t have to purchase one of those fancy ‘brush sanitizers’ and wonder whether it’s doing its job to clean your brush.

You may have read our article where I ‘came out of the closet’ about my ‘brushing while driving’ habit.  Keeping a brush in our cars (I actually have three in one car! 🙂 ) allows them to get plenty of sunlight and fully dry between uses.


3.  Soak the bristles in hydrogen peroxide overnight.

For anyone who doesn’t have a sunny windowsill and who only has one toothbrush, here’s a third option to keep it free from thug bugs.

Just add some peroxide (3% is fine) into a small glass and put the brush head (bristles down) into the peroxide overnight.

Peroxide is a very oxygen-rich environment. So, it does a very good job at robbing these low-oxygen-environment-loving thug bugs of a major condition that they need in order to survive.

When you’re ready to use your brush, simply remove it from the peroxide, give it a quick rinse with water, and you’re all set to begin your brushing routine.


But never try to clean it in the dishwasher or microwave…

One more note, never try to clean your toothbrush by putting it in the dishwasher or microwave.  

The high temperatures will damage the brush and you may also wind up damaging your dishwasher and/or microwave.


Wrapping up…

How about you?  What do you do to keep your brush free of thug bugs?

Please share your experiences in the comments below so we can all continue to learn from one another.

Keep on shining your Light!

Aloha!


Helpful, related resources:

How to Balance Your Oral Flora [article]
OraWellness Bass Toothbrush [product solution]
How To Brush Your Teeth To Reduce Gum Disease [article]
How long should I brush my teeth? [article]

Categories

Brushing, Toxin Free Oral Care

Tags

01, gum disease, natural solutions, toxin free dentistry

Will And Susan

Will and Susan are the founders of OraWellness and are passionate about health, wellness and positive living.

"We are experienced dental health crusaders and holistic oral health product innovators who know first hand the power of nature to heal in miraculous ways."

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Comments

  1. Jaya says

    April 12, 2022

    Two questions:
    1) I have used both plastic brushes and wooden brushes from Orawellness. I always soak the plastic ones once a week overnight in hydrogen peroxide, but I’ve never put the wooden ones into the hydrogen peroxide because I thought soaking the wood overnight might not be good for it. What do you think? Can the wooden brushes be soaked overnight like that?
    2) I recently found out I have developed some pockets of 4 and 5. (Most of my teeth are still 1, 2, and 3). Given these numbers, if I’m using the hydrogen peroxide method, do you think I should soak my brush more frequently than once a week? If so, how often would you suggest?

    Reply
    • Chad at OraWellnesss says

      April 22, 2022

      Aloha Jaya,

      We don’t recommend soaking BrushEco in hydrogen peroxide for too long or too often because wood holds moisture and can warp and expand. However, you could dip the BrushEco brush head in some hydrogen peroxide for a few moments if you’d like. After using your BrushEco, we suggest setting it on a sunny window sill to let it air dry.

      We’re sorry to hear that you have developed some 4mm and 5mm gum pockets! While it can be helpful to disinfect your brush heads with hydrogen peroxide, rather than soaking your brush heads in peroxide more frequently, it would likely be more effective to focus on ‘in the mouth’ and ‘whole body’ strategies to address any infections in your gum pockets.

      More on Gum Disease:
      It’s our understanding that for gum disease, the vicious cycle goes like this: the gum-disease-causing bacteria in our mouths slip below the gum line and start building colonies. While building their numbers, they also attach tartar to our teeth to protect themselves from us. The tartar irritates our gums, so our gums start to pull away from the tartar-coated teeth. This creates a gum pocket. The bacteria move down to the now-deeper base of the gum pocket, where they lay down more tartar, which irritates the gums and causes them to pull away more, etc.

      Our HealThy Mouth System contains all the tools necessary to get down to the base of the gum pockets and kill off the bad bacteria that are wreaking havoc down there.

      Brushing, although beneficial, is only able to reach 2mm down into the gum pockets. Flossing and oral irrigators reach down to 4mm. The key is to kill the bacteria at the base of the gum pockets. The Pocket Applicator in the HealThy Mouth System makes it easy to reach the base of gum pockets as deep as 12mm.

      Here’s a link to Susan’s story, here’s an article on the positive changes one of our customers was able to achieve in just 42 days, and here’s a link to our Customer Testimonials pertaining to the HealThy Mouth System. These may help you to gain an understanding of how our system has worked for others.

      More on Diet / Nutrition:
      As you probably already know, we’re big fans of taking a two-pronged approach to oral health by providing support both in the mouth and in the rest of the body, since our systems are all intertwined and can influence each other.

      We would encourage you to sign up to receive our free video tutorial course, the 5 Steps to a Healthy Mouth. This series covers A LOT of ground regarding the importance of nutrition and how it relates to oral health.

      If it were us, we would increase our vitamin C, CoQ10, and fat-soluble vitamin intake (vitamins A, D, E, and K2) and cut the sugar WAY back. None is best.

      “Can fruit play a part in a cavity-free diet?” might interest you. And An easy step toward stopping tooth decay discusses the importance of vitamin K2.

      Also, if you haven’t already watched Dr. Steven Lin’s interview, The role diet plays in the mouth/body connection, you might want to check it out too.

      If you haven’t already, here’s a link to a page where you can download our free eBook to get tips on ‘in the mouth’ and ‘whole body’ steps (including dietary changes) you can take to help teeth remineralize: How to Stop Tooth Decay and Remineralize Your Teeth. You might find it especially helpful to check out the information about vitamin K2 in chapter 3.

      So, address what you can ‘in the mouth’ AND address any nutritional deficiencies for ‘whole body’ support. That’s the path as we see it.

      Phew! That’s a lot of information. I hope some of it helps. Aloha! 🙂

      Reply
      • Jaya says

        April 26, 2022

        Chad, thank you for posting so much information! I realize I didn’t explain my second question clearly, though. I understand that it’s a whole mouth and whole body approach that’s needed, and that soaking my brush in hydrogen peroxide won’t heal gum pockets. The gist of my question was that I was wondering, since I know I have “thug bugs” that are out of control, whether I should soak my brushes more than the once a week I’ve been doing. Sunny windowsills in my neck of the woods are, unfortunately, not a regular occurrence 🙁
        My diet and oral care was always good, but then there was a 2-3 year period where I was unable to floss much, and the gums around some of my back teeth developed these pockets. The dental hygienist I saw last November tested my oral pH and said it was “excellent”, so that one is good :-), and I have pH paper at home to check ongoing. At that time, I didn’t have any pockets that were 5’s (although she said some of the 4s were on their way to a 5), and she told me I could heal it on my own with diligent brushing, floss, and an irrigator twice a day, since all the pockets were 4 and under, so I started regularly using Shine, the Healthy Mouth Blend, the Bass brushes, and an oral irrigator. But then this February, I found out I now had some pockets that were 5. So I knew I had to up what I was doing, and my plan was to get the Healthy Mouth System at the April sale, which I have now done 🙂 So I’m hopeful this will make the difference! Again, thank you for posting all that information!

        Reply
        • Chad at OraWellnesss says

          April 27, 2022

          Aloha Jaya,

          You’re welcome!

          Thank you so much for taking the time to further clarify your second question. 🙂

          Since you know you have “thug bugs” that are out of control, it definitely couldn’t hurt to soak your brushes more than once a week in hydrogen peroxide—especially since sunny windowsills are not common where you live.

          All of us here at OraWellness sincerely hope that the HealThy Mouth System helps to make a positive difference in your oral health!

          Please feel free to contact us with any other questions, Jaya; we’re here to help!

          Reply
  2. Fran Knauss says

    March 14, 2021

    I’ve long used the hydrogen peroxide soak for toothbrushes, water pic parts, etc. Now I’m wondering about using ultra violet light. My husband rigged an ultra violet light bulb into an empty dresser drawer so I could use it for daily cleaning of my biPap gear. Couldn’t I add the toothbrushes, too?

    Reply
    • Will And Susan says

      March 21, 2021

      Hi Fran,

      Thanks for asking!

      I see no reason why UV light couldn’t be used for your oral hygiene gear as well. I don’t think that the light will damage toothbrush bristles if it’s not giving your biPap gear any issues.

      Great idea!

      Reply
  3. MB says

    November 1, 2019

    Great tips! Thanks for the reminder to use sun light! I used peroxide (3%)but my bristles got discolored/bleached 😕

    Reply
  4. Linda says

    October 30, 2019

    Hi Will & Susan,

    Great article…something I learned years ago … Keep my healthy mouth tools in the bath cabinet because everytime we use the toilet we release floating microbes into the environment, just a suggestion.

    Blessings to ALL you DO & ARE
    Linda

    Reply
  5. Mary says

    October 27, 2019

    Hi. I am a new user of your products, and they’re great! I have been on the path of holistic healing of my mouth and body for a while now. This article was very helpful & informative, and I use an electric toothbrush that has a built in sanitizer on the charging unit. My question, at the risk of being gross is around having toothbrushes out in the bathroom. I once read that anytime a toothbrush is left out, there are microscopic bits of feces deposited on them every time a toilet is flushed, which is obviously beyond disgusting. I have never left my toothbrush out since I read that. I either keep it in a drawer between brushings, or keep it in my travel kit when I’m away from home. So therefore, the concept of it being a petri dish for bad bugs is absolutely a risk, which is also disgusting & goes against my wish to have a clean toothbrush! Was I fed false information? Please clarify. Thanks!

    Reply
  6. Anne says

    October 27, 2019

    If the toothbrushes are soaked in hydrogen peroxide overnight, should they still be allowed to dry before the next use—by rotating between two or more brushes? Thanks

    Reply
    • Rebekah At OraWellness says

      July 22, 2020

      Aloha Anne,

      Thanks for stopping by!

      It’s really up to you! Personally, if I soaked my toothbrush head in hydrogen peroxide overnight, I wouldn’t feel the need to dry it out before using it because the hydrogen peroxide should have taken care of any thug bugs that were clinging to the toothbrush bristles. I would simply rinse my toothbrush with water to wash away any remaining hydrogen peroxide and then I’d use it.

      I hope that helps!

      Reply
  7. Julia Ryan says

    October 14, 2019

    Sunshine! Great idea. We do the HP soak and have several brushes for drying between uses, but am really loving the idea of putting this Colorado sunshine to another use. Thanks for all the toothy news.

    Reply
  8. Michele Rabinowitz says

    October 13, 2019

    I soak my toothbrush and tongue scrapper in hot water with 2 drops of tea tree essential oil for a few hours or overnight. Rinse throughly.

    Reply
  9. Karen says

    October 8, 2019

    Do you have to change the peroxide every day?

    Reply
    • Will And Susan says

      October 9, 2019

      It’s not critical to change peroxide daily. But just know that it’s slowly losing its power by interacting with ‘stuff’ on your brush. So, every 2-3 days perhaps?

      Reply
  10. Alida says

    October 8, 2019

    I use 3 of your Bass toothbrushes at a time one for breakfast, lunch & dinner, color-coded. They’re kept on my sunny windowsill. So they get used every 24 hours & unless it’s a cloudy or rainy day get sun exposure between each use.

    Reply
    • Will And Susan says

      October 9, 2019

      Sounds like a very thug bug free strategy Alida!

      Thanks for sharing your technique!

      Reply
  11. Casey says

    October 6, 2019

    Hello,

    I’m confused by number one. I would be really amazed if someone brushed his teeth in the morning and then before bed found his toothbrush not fully dry. I even live in a fairly humid home; things don’t dry instantaneously as they did back in West Texas. But needing a second toothbrush seems extreme and totally unnecessary. Can you explain…?

    Reply
    • Will And Susan says

      October 9, 2019

      Thanks for asking Casey!

      Yeah, if you open up the tufts of bristles, you’d possibly be surprised to find moisture between the bristles in each tuft down near where they are punched into the toothbrush. So, giving some extra time is a wise strategy from our view. I know it seems weird, but you can feel the moisture down near the base of the brush.

      I hope that helps!

      Reply
  12. Teresa says

    October 6, 2019

    I use bicarbonate soda to brush my teeth and I think that in itself keeps it bug free.

    Reply
    • Will And Susan says

      October 9, 2019

      Hi Teresa,

      Yeah, sodium bicarbonate is, well, salt. So, it’s very antimicrobial and should do the trick for you. It would still be good to let the brush fully dry in between to give you a second ‘angle’ to deal with thug bugs, but I agree, salt is very effective.

      Reply
  13. Sam Tan says

    October 6, 2019

    Thanks Orawellness. Love your Bass toothbrushes and helpful tips. My dentist says I have some of the cleanest teeth she’s seen.
    How about just using a simple foaming soap and hot water rinse after each use? I use a clean foaming soap like Dr Bronners or CalBen, not the creamy lotion-type soap and not even bar soap, but the foam soap seems to clean well and live minimum residue, and then give it a rinse as hot as the bathroom faucet can get. What do you think?

    Reply
    • Will And Susan says

      October 9, 2019

      Aloha Sam Tan,

      Thanks for sharing your strategy here.

      Yeah, I suppose soap would help a lot. The way soap works (if I understand it correctly) is to just make it difficult for anything to adhere to the surface you’re applying the soap to. So, while not particularly antimicrobial, using soap will help to keep the brush cleaner. Perhaps a second strategy to allow the brush to dry in between uses would help too?

      I hope that helps!

      Reply
  14. Dan M says

    October 6, 2019

    I pop my tooth brushes in my So Clean CPAP sanitizer.. when my mask and hose are cleaned, so are my toothbrushes.It uses activated oxygen.

    Reply
    • Will And Susan says

      October 9, 2019

      Super excellent technique Dan! Yep, oxygen is nature’s best, well, oxidizer. 🙂

      Reply
  15. Nancy says

    October 6, 2019

    How about an ultraviolet sanitizer?

    Reply
    • Will And Susan says

      October 9, 2019

      Hi Nancy,

      Yep, ultraviolet sanitizers could work I think. Much depends on the quality of the unit perhaps? I really don’t know that much about their effectiveness, but it makes sense to me given what I do know of UV’s impact on microbes.

      Good idea! Thanks for sharing it!

      Reply
  16. Meadow says

    October 6, 2019

    I never thought about sanitizing my toothbrush. Before using my salt toothpaste, as a first step I brush with a hydrogen peroxide based mouth rinse. I figured the combination of the hydrogen peroxide in the mouth rinse and the salt in my toothpaste would be good germ deterrents. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Will And Susan says

      October 10, 2019

      Hi Meadow,

      Thanks for sharing your ideas here.

      We encourage you and anyone else reading this to use a really gentle hand if you are brushing your teeth during or right after exposure to hydrogen peroxide. Peroxide is, well, really oxidizing. And so we want to treat any tissue we’re exposing to an oxidizing agent with a gentle hand or risk damaging the tissue. In the case of brushing teeth, we want to mind the fact that it is possible to literally brush our enamel from our teeth. So, please be gentle and no zombie brushing 🙂

      We hope this helps you along your path!

      Reply
  17. Marlo says

    October 6, 2019

    We do hydrogen peroxide, using fresh hydrogen peroxide every time I sanitize. But Tea Tree oil (has to be diluted in something, or it’ll melt the plastic of a Bass brush) or colloidal silver are my close seconds. I like the brush rotation tip!

    The other thing worth mentioning is that once dry, put your brush inside your medicine cabinet! Even with the lid on, each toilet flush is like spraying bacteria all over your brushes if they sit next to the sink. It stuns me how many times I walk into bathrooms to find the seat up because someone thought it wasn’t “clean” to lower it. Just wash your hands afterward!

    Reply
  18. CaH says

    October 6, 2019

    I put my toothbrush in a small box of baking soda which dries the brush out in the cabinet. I like the idea of putting the brush in the sun . I sun dry my clothes so I’ll now make a place for my toothbrush!

    Reply
  19. 4waystoyummy says

    October 6, 2019

    Thank you for the reminder! I am on it!

    Reply
    • Will And Susan says

      October 9, 2019

      🙂

      Reply
  20. Jen says

    October 6, 2019

    I soak all my dental tools (bruch, rubber pick, Waterpik tools, etc) in about an inch of hydrogen peroxide at least once a month. Recently, I noticed a slightly unappealing taste in the water coming from my Waterpik. I poured about 2 capfuls of HP in the bottom of the basin, turned on the motor, and let it run through. No more bad-tasting water.

    A tip I’ve never seen is to always wash one’s hands before flossing. Imagine touching your cellphone, then your dental floss and running the floss between your teeth!

    Reply
    • Will And Susan says

      October 10, 2019

      Hi Jen,

      Great ideas here! Thanks for sharing!

      Yep, complete agreement about washing hands before flossing. Simple hygiene steps are so easy to overlook, aren’t they? 🙂

      Thanks again!

      Reply
  21. SaraC says

    November 28, 2017

    I don’t claim to know everything about perfect tooth care, but since you asked, I take boiled water and put in in a small jar with one tablespoon of AL free baking soda. I rinse my brush thoroughly and store it in this highly alkaline solution. Hydrogen peroxide is a highly acidic solution. I have used it for a tooth brush disinfectant many times but it should be rinsed off before use.

    Reply
  22. Kat says

    September 18, 2017

    Hi! My only comment on your article is this: I don’t keep my toothbrush in the bathroom. when you flush a lot of “stuff” is released into the air. It hits everything! You spoke of nasty goobers in the toothbruh. I want to shield my toothbrush and my health from that “stuff” that flies every time you flush. So my toothbrush is in the kitchen.
    I do like your two toothbrush idea so each can dry out between uses so I will be ordering some Bass toothbrushes, and also because of the quality of the bristles and the Bass Brushing Technique.
    Thank you for a great article!

    Reply
    • Melissa Wagner says

      October 7, 2019

      Why not just keep the toilet lid closed, particularly when flushing?

      Reply
  23. Valerie Jo Jun Ternullo says

    April 23, 2017

    I am so excited to learn all you have shared. I have one root Canal. What can I do and how much does it cost. I have had one rear tooth pulled and have impacted wisdom teeth and I am 72 years old. Any advice?

    Reply
  24. Melanie says

    March 7, 2017

    I’m 54 yrs old and have many dental problems. I brush 3x a day and floss 2x a day . I have many crowns, 2 bridges and 1 implant and 3 teeth pulled. Now I have a cracked tooth with a abscess under my new bridge. I’m at my wits end with my teeth.HELP….My mother also had bad teeth.
    Melanie

    Reply
  25. Coccinelle says

    October 25, 2016

    Wow I stand corrected! I always thought that rinsing my brush with the hottest water I could get was enough to kill the bugs. I will start to use apple cider vinegar now. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Will & Susan Revak says

      October 25, 2016

      You’re welcome! Thanks for finding benefit from our work and research!

      Reply
  26. Luc Chene says

    July 9, 2016

    When using peroxide, it good to look at the ingredients, some add stabilizers which are toxic, some so not and provide pure peroxide. Why the stabilizer ? I had peroxide in a spray bottle laying for months in a cupboard and it was still bubbling strongly if sprayed unto the skin.

    Reply
  27. Lisa says

    September 14, 2015

    I am excited to use your product. I read about it on Wellness Momma. I have a tooth that has been treated twice with a root canal. I recently read how root canals are not good and they always cause bacteria. I was considering having my tooth pulled, I still have pain (not bad) that radiates down my neck. My dentist and specialist said that the tooth looks good and the pain should not be coming from the tooth. Do you have any suggestions? Also, I have a very small cavity that my dentist wants to fill. Do you think oil pulling can get rid of the cavity along with using your product? Are fillings toxic? Thank you very much for all of your articles and comments.

    Reply
    • Will says

      September 20, 2015

      Aloha Lisa,

      Thank you for stopping by to ask your excellent questions.

      I’m sorry to hear that you have a twice treated root canal and still have pain. I’m even more sorry to hear that your current dentist doesn’t seem to be able to help you effectively navigate this issue. If I were in your position, I would most definitely get a second opinion.

      While having a tooth pulled is a serious consideration (after all, once it’s out, it’s gone forever), it’s worth exploring the source of the pain as the pain is there telling you something isn’t right. The fact that you can feel it going down your neck bothers me. I would want to find a dentist who would test for an infection under/around the tooth with the root canal. I would also have a hard time overlooking what the research says about the potential for root canals to be ‘safe zones’ for bad bugs to colonize and use as a base into the whole body.

      I have to be careful because I don’t want to scare you. That said, I think you have come to ask here already knowing that there are risks with root canals. We believe there is a direct connection between root canals and other issues in the body. This migrating pain down your neck suggests that your immune system is dealing with something in the area. It’s a ‘hot spot’.

      Re your questions about cavities… It really depends on the severity of the cavity whether anyone can stop it with oil pulling, our product, or any other ‘surface’ treatment. This is even true with getting a cavity filled. I mean, having a cavity filled surely doesn’t mean that cavity has stopped and has been ‘successfully treated’. As we all know, a small cavity often becomes a larger cavity, which becomes a crown, then a root canal, then an extraction for an implant. While an extreme example, it’s foolish of us to assume that once a cavity has been treated by a dentist, that it’s ‘healed’ by any stretch of the imagination.

      All fillings challenge the system to one degree or another. We encourage our readers to avoid any ‘silver’ fillings. While composite materials also cause concern to us, amalgam fillings (silver colored) are definitely the ‘greater of two evils’ in our opinion.

      We hope that helps!

      Reply
  28. Sharon says

    July 5, 2015

    I soak my toothbrush in distilled white vinegar overnight.

    Reply
    • Will says

      July 5, 2015

      That’ll work! 🙂

      Reply
  29. Maria Sireci says

    June 19, 2015

    After rinsing it I spray my brush with H2O2. I’m wondering if that’s not as good as soaking. I just leave the hydrogen peroxide on there and stick it right in my toothbrush cup to dry out.

    Reply
    • Will says

      June 19, 2015

      Aloha Maria,

      Thank you for reaching out to us. I think this strategy will be fine. The soaking will just provide a more thorough approach, but spraying peroxide would definitely help!

      Reply
  30. Sara says

    June 3, 2015

    Aloha,

    I have been brushing with the Bass brush and flossing with your HealThouMouth Blend for 2 months for a 9 pocket. Today the periodontist and cleaning revealed the pocket number has not improved nor has it worsened. What are your suggestions as I am very interested in the health of my teeth and avoiding the suggested surgery. The gums have never bled, no odors, no redness or swelling. Should I get the syringe for the blend. I also use prayer!

    Thank you for your work and products.

    Sincere Regards,
    Sara

    Reply
    • Will says

      June 20, 2015

      Aloha Sara,

      Thank you for reaching out to us.

      Yeah, with a 9mm pocket, no product that we use ‘on the surface’ is going to sufficiently address this issue unless we can gain access TO THE BASE of the gum pocket. You see the base of the pocket is really the ‘front line’ of the battle with the bad bugs. So, even through you have been addressing the surface (and arguably helping to maintain healthy gum pockets around other teeth that don’t have deeper pockets), ultimately, you need to address this at the base of the pocket.

      I think you are right on pondering the use of our Healthy Mouth System. That’s exactly what we created the system for!

      Holler with any others Sara, we’re here to help. 🙂

      Reply
  31. Laura says

    April 9, 2015

    Hello there,
    What a great article. I have only just recently started soaking my toothbrush and my husband’s and daughter’s toothbrushes in hydrogen peroxide once a week. Yet, I have a few questions:

    1. How do you feel about putting all of our toothbrushes head down in one glass with hydrogen peroxide at once, or do you advise putting the toothbrushes in separate glasses? (Yes, I do this simply out of pure laziness but I would immediately separate the brushes if you thought it would be more prudent.)

    2. How do you feel about using hydrogen peroxide as a mouth wash? Lately it seems that there are many sites which promote all-natural approaches to cleaning teeth, mouth and gums which recommend using hydrogen peroxide as a mouth wash. I have such high regard for your opinion therefore I am curious to know what is your position on this? Incidentally, I tried it and I felt it was really harsh and I immediately went back to using my ”heal thy mouth blend” and water as a mouth wash and then I asked myself, ”I wonder what Will and Susan would have to say about this.” And likewise, does a salt water solution make for a good mouthwash?

    Thank you for your blog and your products! I love coming here to your blog to learn more about how to better care for my and my family’s dental health! And I recently turned my mom onto your products during a trip we took together and by the end of the vacation she was hooked, too!

    Best regards,
    Laura

    Reply
    • Will says

      June 20, 2015

      Aloha Laura,

      Thank you for your kind words of encouragement!

      Yeah, I think soaking brushes together is probably fine. If someone has really active gum disease, it may be better to soak separately, but in general I think it’s a safe idea.

      Regarding the use of peroxide in the mouth, yes it’s safe but you must dilute it to a max of 1.5%. Most peroxide available in the US is 3% so just make sure that you dilute it at least 50% with water.

      And, if you ever feel an increase in sensitivity to hot/cold liquids, this is a common sign that the peroxide is still too strong.

      Salt water is fine just be sure to not make it too strong as it’s very drying. 🙂

      Thanks again for all the excellent questions!

      Reply
  32. Patricia says

    March 28, 2015

    What an amazing list of strategies! I love the idea o, sunbathing as well! I rinse mine in salt water with a drop of tea tree and then I dry it off and let it dry out on my counter in a cup like your picture. I didn’t think of rotating…so i will definitely give it a try. What do you think of using betonite clay or activated charcoal? Thanks for the amazing strategies and your continued care for our oral health!

    Reply
    • Will says

      March 28, 2015

      Aloha Patricia!

      Thank you (as always) for stopping by to share your appreciation of our work. 🙂

      We have mixed feelings on using bentonite. I hope to have this info out sooner than other subjects that we promised you previously! 🙂 Activated charcoal makes sense to us.

      It’s always so great to see you here. Thanks again for your supportive words!! 🙂

      Aloha!

      Reply
  33. Candace says

    March 21, 2015

    Thank you for yet another excellent article on how to keep our oral health healthy! I wash my Bass toothbrush after every use with Dr. Bronner’s Soap. Love all the other ideas mentioned here too.

    Reply
  34. Kateri says

    March 17, 2015

    What about spraying the bristles with Colloidal Silver each night? I thought of that recently and was curious if that would kill bugs…

    Reply
    • Will says

      March 19, 2015

      Aloha Kateri,

      Excellent idea! Colloidal silver is a very effective anti bacterial agent. My only concern about colloidal silver is inconsistency in the creation process. In other words, not all colloidal silver is equally strong and effective. I don’t know enough about it to be able to suggest a brand that would be more credible. Thankfully, we have a dear friend who makes it, so we can get it from him. 🙂

      Thank you for stopping by to offer your thoughts to the conversation!

      Reply
  35. Mary Stone says

    March 15, 2015

    I always soak my toothbrushes in peroxide over nite. It’s a great way to keep them clean!

    Reply
    • Will says

      March 16, 2015

      Aloha Mary!

      Agreed! Peroxide is an excellent strategy. Thanks for stopping by to share your thoughts!

      Reply
  36. Dianaruth says

    March 15, 2015

    I keep a cup with about three inches of hydrogen peroxide on the bathroom counter. The brushes are always either being used or rinsed and stored in the peroxide.

    Reply
    • Will says

      March 16, 2015

      That will work!

      How often do you change the peroxide? Once peroxide has used up all the free oxygen in the peroxide, it’s water. So, perhaps change it every handful of days?

      Thanks for stopping by to offer your ideas.

      Aloha!

      Reply
  37. Dr Julian Holmes says

    March 15, 2015

    Hi Will & Sue. Hydrogen peroxide as you state is a great sanitizer. You could also use one of our ozone generators. Then you would have ozonated water to rinse and drink, as well as ozonated water to rinse and soak the brushes in too. There a to. Of research to back up this approach.
    Something that you might also not know about are the bis-phenols used in plastics and in tooth coloured fillings. I’ve lectured on these pseudo-hormones for a long time and the latest research does not make good reading. Rinsing with ozonated water destroys these chemicals and returns your mouth to a safe place.
    So for all your readers who have white or tooth coloured fillings, seriously consider getting a At-Home ozone unit. Use this daily to make ozonated water and make rinsing with ozonated water part of your healthy life style. These units are on special offer from http://www.greycellenterprises.com then follow the links to ‘Orders’. Regards, Julian

    Reply
    • Will says

      March 16, 2015

      Aloha Dr Julian!

      Thank you again for stopping by to offer your excellent info and research!

      Can you send us a link to the research on using ozone to mitigate BPA in composite fillings? We completely agree that having a home ozone unit is an excellent idea for anyone looking to take their health to the next level.

      Thanks again for sharing your research and expertise with us!

      Aloha!

      Reply
    • Denise says

      October 6, 2019

      I followed the link and it’s all in either Chinese or Japanese and no Info on an ozonator, just houses!??

      Reply
  38. Rebecca says

    March 15, 2015

    I spray mine with colloidal silver

    Reply
    • Will says

      March 16, 2015

      Excellent strategy Rebecca! I forgot to add colloidal silver to the options!

      Thanks for the reminder! 🙂

      Reply
  39. Jan Church says

    March 15, 2015

    My Dentist said I needed a root canal but I didn’t want one so I have contacted a holistic Dentist and am wondering what they will do? Any ideas?

    My toothbrush dries very well but I just may soak it in 3% hydrogen peroxide as well.

    Reply
    • Will says

      March 16, 2015

      Aloha Jan,

      Thank you for reaching out to us.

      I don’t know what one dentist from another will suggest as a course of treatment. I do want to acknowledge you for being willing to get a second opinion. Sometimes it even serves us to get a third opinion. It’s common that different dentists will have widely varying suggested treatments. While we’d all like to think that all dentists are created equal in their skill, it’s just not that way. This is why it’s so important that we empower ourselves with information so we can ask educated questions to determine if the dentist we’re currently sitting with can optimally support our needs.

      Good for you! Keep on the path! 🙂

      Aloha!

      Reply
  40. D R says

    March 15, 2015

    This is one of the most helpful emails you have ever sent to me. I had no idea sunlight was good for my bass brush.

    Reply
    • Will says

      March 16, 2015

      Thanks for the supportive feedback DR! Hearing positive words like yours helps us to know that ‘you’ out there appreciate and benefit from our research and info!

      Thank you and Aloha!

      Reply
  41. Dorothy says

    March 15, 2015

    I keep salt water in a cup with a lid handy in the bathroom and when I’m finished brushing, I pour some of the water over my brush. I actually keep a straw in the water to mix the solution each time and to sip it to rinse my mouth. What kind of salt to use? I normally use Himalayan, but sometimes Nature’s Cargo, or rarely coarse salt which is what Dr. Huggins recommends.

    Reply
    • Will says

      March 16, 2015

      Aloha Dorothy,

      Another excellent strategy! Salt is yet another of Mother Nature’s excellent sanitizers!

      Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    • Myrna says

      October 6, 2019

      I have a glass with salt water as well ! I use for all my brushes as well as rubber tip! 😉

      Reply
  42. Darleen says

    March 15, 2015

    I put a few drops of Tea Tree Oil on my wonderful Bass toothbrushes to keep them germ free.

    Reply
    • Will says

      March 16, 2015

      Aloha Darleen,

      Yet again, another excellent strategy. Just be sure that the straight essential oil isn’t damaging the plastics of the brush. Some essential oils are pretty strong and can ‘fry’ some plastics.

      All in all, another great strategy!

      Reply
  43. Megan says

    March 15, 2015

    Hi, I have a question regarding the use of peroxide to clean your toothbrush. How often should you soak it overnight? Should it be every night or just a few times a week or what?

    Reply
    • Will says

      March 16, 2015

      Great question Megan.

      It’s really up to you. How much of a concern are bad bugs to you? For example, if I knew I had an active infection in my mouth, I’d be more tempted to soak my brush overnight every few days. Otherwise, a couple times a month is plenty to keep it clean and have you feel that your brush isn’t harboring bad bugs.

      I hope that helps!

      Reply
  44. LeeAnn says

    March 15, 2015

    wow! I hadn’t thought about this but I’m thankful you brought it to my attention. I’ll be utilizing at least one of these remedies right away. Thanks for looking out for my families oral health.

    Reply
    • Will says

      March 16, 2015

      Aloha LeeAnn,

      Thank you for letting us know this info was helpful! We feel so blessed to know that we are helping families like yours navigate to greater oral health with our work.

      Thank you and Aloha!

      Reply
  45. Bruce says

    March 15, 2015

    what about soaking it in Listerine for 10 minutes after use?

    Reply
    • Will says

      March 16, 2015

      Aloha Bruce,

      Hmm, while Listerine will work for this, it’s not free (or really cheap like peroxide). And personally, we don’t keep products like this in our home because they are alcohol based, which if used in the mouth is heading in the wrong direction. You see, the alcohol used in products like you mention have been proven to dry the mucousal tissues of the mouth and dry mouth encourages gum disease. Thus, heading in the wrong direction.

      I suppose if you are just using products like this to soak your brush, then you rinse it prior to using it in your mouth, that could work. But then, you’re still spending $ when you could keep your brush clean for free. Ultimately, it’s each of our choice how we want to go about this. We offer our info and research with the hope to assist you along your path. What each of us does with the info is up to us.

      Thank you for stopping by to ask and provide us the platform to share this info with you and others!

      Aloha!

      Reply
  46. Betsy says

    March 15, 2015

    We use the toothbrush sanitizer from Vermontsoap.com. It’s an alcohol based spray.

    Reply
    • Will says

      March 16, 2015

      Aloha Betsy,

      Thank you for sharing this with us. While you can use alcohol based sanitizers, please consider rinsing your brush prior to using it. You see, alcohol has been proven to dry the tissues of the mouth and dry mouth encourages the bugs implicated with gum disease. So, we consider the use of alcohol (in the mouth) as heading in the wrong direction for anyone looking to navigate to optimal oral health.

      We hope this helps! 🙂

      Thanks for stopping by to offer your ideas/input!

      Reply

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