AIBU to replace toothbrushes after illness?

[jadziadax]

Last week DH, DD and I were all quite unwell with a stomach bug. At mother's group this morning it turns out nearly all of us suffered D&V. So I mentioned that a local pharmacy had toothbrushes on sale. They all looked at me like I was the queen of non sequitur.

When I explained that I liked to replace our toothbrushes after illness, I got lots of 's and 's. The conversation moved on, but it got me thinking.

Am I OTT? I don't replace after a little sniffle, but do after nasty 'flu, bad tummy bug, other infectious things.

AIBU?

Once you have already had the illness then you have developed antibodies to it and unlikely to re-catch it from your own toothbrush. Though if one person is ill, it's probably sensible to separate their toothbrush (and use a different toothpaste) for the term of the illness. However, if you really want sterile toothbrushes after an illness, you can always run them through the dishwasher. I do that with all sorts of things (Like hairbrushes if one of dd's friends shows up for a sleepover without her own).

I don't think you are being unreasonable. That dishwasher tip is great, it never occurred to me to do that. I rinse my toothbrush with peroxide quite often.

Put all my sponges through the dishwasher every time I run it.

Also a good idea if there are illnesses in the house, to give everyone a separate hand towel for hand drying.

tbh, yes. Why not just soak them in a disinfecting solution (according to manufacturer's (of disinfectant, that is) guidelines?

YANBU. It is recommended that you tooth brushes are changed after any illness such as a cold/sickness bug etc.

I boil our toothbrushes ever so often, for this reason. A waste to replace a perfectly good tootbrush. Adds to landfills.

(Imagines mountain of discarded tootbrushes)

Never thought about it. Sounds like a good idea though, as does the dishwasher one.

The manual for our dishwasher says never to put sponges or dishcloths in it though. It can damage the machine apparently.

Thanks for your replies. Am glad you don't all think I'm mad.

The dishwasher idea is a good one, alas, our dishwasher is me.

Disinfectants, sterilizing, etc. good ideas also, but involve lots (relatively) of water. I'm in Australia, so water use is more of a concern than landfill.

YANBU - I do the same, though I draw the line at putting them in the dishwasher.

that is a very good point and im actually ashamed id never thought of this before.
although im curious to why you would dishwash a hairbrush SofiaAmes? because of nits? or am i missing something else? [panics]

Yes, for nits. Just wish I could have run dd through the dishwasher too when she got them!!

I can understand why you might want to do it, but the logic you've based it on is nonsense.You only got better from the illness because your body developed the anti-bodies to fight it!