Since childhood, we have been taught to pour boiling water over a new toothbrush to disinfect it. But is this really necessary?
It is not necessary to disinfect a new toothbrush before use.
As noted by dentist Tatyana BOLSHOVA, this stereotype has persisted since the times when toothbrushes were sold without airtight packaging. Modern toothbrushes are 'sealed', made mainly from synthetic materials; boiling them can damage the bristles, leading to microcracks where microorganisms can accumulate – the toothbrush will quickly become unusable.
A modern toothbrush only needs to be rinsed with warm soapy water after being removed from its packaging.
