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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that sharing electric toothbrushes is revolting?

63 replies

Karrot · 07/09/2016 17:50

When I went to a friend's house the other day, her daughter (7) was getting ready for bed, so we were all chatting in the bathroom while she was cleaning her teeth. I was Shock to see her pick up a toothbrush head from a glass containing three others (one for each parent and her brother), and attached it to the single electric toothbrush in the bathroom! Her mum explained that they thought buying a toothbrush each was too expensive (they are both in good jobs and not particularly tight for cash) and that it was easier to share. Apparently each toothbrush head has a little coloured ring thingy to tell them apart...???!

OP posts:
YelloDraw · 07/09/2016 17:58

Totally normal. You need to give it a good rinse anyway afterwards or it gets covered in toothpaste.

My DP is like you tho OP so it's not a totally strange view point.

ThePinkOcelot · 07/09/2016 17:58

DD and I share a toothbrush, we do the same and just change the head. Failing to see how it's disgusting tbh! YABU!

Out2pasture · 07/09/2016 17:58

Been there done that. Although I'd store the brushes so none of the bristles touch.

YelloDraw · 07/09/2016 17:59

It isn't the germs so much as the caked on white toothpaste.

Ha ha x post. I wash that off my own after every use!

dailyarsewipe · 07/09/2016 18:00

Don't you rinse your toothbrush after you have used it?

Floggingmolly · 07/09/2016 18:00

We do this Hmm. You do understand that you don't insert the battery end in your mouth?! even mine isn't big enough
Ours is a state of the art super duper one, even the heads cost £21 for a three pack. Why on earth would we duplicate (or triplicate) that??

Original poster
Karrot · 07/09/2016 18:03

I do rinse, but clearly not well enough ;-) You think you've got rid of it,. buit in the morning, there's still a tonne of dried on toothpastey dribble on the handle. But you've convinced me. I am a convert. Next time one of our electric toothbrushes breaks, I hereby promise to try this out.

OP posts:
Hulababy · 07/09/2016 18:03

Dh and I share one toothbrush, but each have a different toothbrush head which are interchangeable. Infact the brush we have has a special holder attached - charger for one brush, space for 4 heads. So designed to share the actual main part - seeing as it cost about £60-70, I wasn't going to buy one each when there was no need to!

Ineedmorelemonpledge · 07/09/2016 18:04

I thought it was the whole idea of the coloured rings. DS has yellow and I have blue.

If we have a guest stay an impromptu night we have a spare one in a sealed packet.

Every time I use the brush I clean any gunk off the handle under the tap.

Hulababy · 07/09/2016 18:06

We don't have caked on toothpaste or dribbly bits on the bottom of the toothbrush. After use we wash and wipe the base part, rinse the head and place them on the holder.

MauledbytheTigers · 07/09/2016 18:06

Completely normal...it's how they are meant to be used. Having an electric toothbrush each is unnecessary and excessive.

Sallystyle · 07/09/2016 18:06

It never crossed my mind we could use mine and just swap heads Blush

Floralnomad · 07/09/2016 18:08

We have 3 bases , DS and I have our own and dd and DH share a base ,that said I'm happy for anyone to use my 'handle' provided they rinse it afterwards .

Kishmish · 07/09/2016 18:09

Well it's not like you deep throat the handle is it? I can't say I've ever dribbled down it to the extent that taking off the head and rinsing under the tap wouldn't clean it.

lifesalongsong · 07/09/2016 18:12

You're meant to use them like that though, do people really not know that?

Crikeyblimey · 07/09/2016 18:13

Perfectly normal and expected - that's what the different coloured rings for the heads are for.

hollyisalovelyname · 07/09/2016 18:14

My electric toothbrush looks a state.
What am I doing wrong.
Wails

acasualobserver · 07/09/2016 18:17

Give it a little treat with the nail brush.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es · 07/09/2016 18:18

We have one of these, it has a little holder for the 4 heads, no problems at all.

Rumpelstiltskin143 · 07/09/2016 18:19

They even sell the heads with a different colour bands so you know which is yours.

FATEdestiny · 07/09/2016 18:20

I'd better not mention that we often share the bristle end of my electric toothbrush

Hulababy · 07/09/2016 18:20

See: www.boots.com/en/Oral-B-Smart-Series-4000-CrossAction-Electric-Toothbrush_1856194/

Designed to hold up to 4 brush heads.

GobblersKnob · 07/09/2016 18:25

We have a handle for us and a handle for the kids, (but only because they have a kids handle with a lower vibration, otherwise we would just share one) is not weird in the slightest.

And err you rinse the handle after use, so if anyone is a dribbler it's fine Wink

Mummaaaaaah · 07/09/2016 18:28

It's totally what they are designed to do. Hence the selling of different coloured rings for the heads. What did you think they were for?

YADBU and more than a little neurotic!

KayJBee · 07/09/2016 18:31

We have one handle for the grown ups and one for the kids (slightly gentler and shorter time). Why on earth would be want or need 5 battery handles clogging up the bathroom? I think 2 is pretty wasteful, when really we could just have one.
Have just inspected both handles, no toothpaste on either. Are we just clean brushers? Cos I doubt we're super rinsers!