I’m a dentist — here’s why you shouldn’t brush your teeth in the shower
The dirty tooth about brushing your teeth in the shower is it’s not doctor recommended.
Dr. Payal Bhalla, lead dentist and clinical director of Quest Dental in England, recently explained that trying to kill two birds with one stone in the shower could actually lead to health problems.
The first issue with brushing your teeth in the shower is the water temperature may be significantly warmer than what you would use at the sink.
This can soften the bristles of your toothbrush, which could make them less effective in cleaning your teeth.
“Whilst most electric toothbrushes are waterproof, I wouldn’t recommend submerging them in water as it could damage the mechanism and bristles,” Bhalla told HuffPost.
Using the same water source for your teeth and body parts could also lead to the transfer of germs to your mouth, which could make you sick and compromise your immune system.
Bhalla said that “the shower head can harbor bacteria, and when you brush your teeth under the shower head, you may be exposing your toothbrush to those bacteria, again increasing your likelihood of illness.”
Be careful that your toothpaste doesn’t dribble onto the shower floor, too.
“Water and toothpaste can make the shower floor slippery, which can increase the risk of falls and injuries,” Bhalla warned.
If all of this information still doesn’t deter you from brushing your teeth in the shower, at least be sure not to leave your toothbrush in there “as moisture in the shower can create an ideal environment for bacteria to grow,” Bhalla advised.
“Bacteria can build up on your toothbrush and potentially lead to oral health issues,” she explained.
And just know that you may not be saving as much water as you’d like to think you are by getting everything done in the shower.
“While brushing your teeth in the shower, you may end up using more water than necessary. For example, if you leave the water running while you brush your teeth, you may waste a significant amount of water,” Bhalla said.
Instead, she suggested: “A more effective way to save water while brushing your teeth is to turn off the faucet while you brush at the sink.”
