During childhood, our mothers mandated that we brushed our teeth before hitting the bed. It was supposed to be a night time ritual, wasn't it? But as we grow up, are we still in the habit of following it, right? To be honest, not really.

As grown-ups constantly surrounded by work, household chores, and other duties, there are days when all we want to do is collapse in our beds and catch up on some much-needed shut-eye. But is brushing teeth something that should be ignored at such times? Absolutely not!

Diana Polekhina/Unsplash | The only way we can get rid of the bacteria stuck to our teeth is by brushing our teeth thoroughly and in the correct way

Every time we eat something, food particles end up sticking to our teeth, leading to a lot of germs and bacteria growth. This bacteria is the root cause of many dental ailments like bad breath, cavities, tooth decay, etc. The only way we can get rid of this bacteria is by brushing our teeth thoroughly and in the correct way (yes, there’s a right way to do it!).

Here are some mistakes you must avoid during or after cleaning your teeth.

#1 - Using a plastic protective cover

Putting your toothbrush in an open area after using it might not sound like the best or safest option, but putting a cover over it is actually much worse. A bristle cover doesn’t allow your wet toothbrush to dry completely, making it a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. In fact, experts believe that when a toothbrush is left in the open, bacteria on the bristles can be killed instantly.

#2 - Bad storage idea

After using it, leaving your toothbrush too close to the toilet seat is among the grossest thing one can ever do. It's even worse than germs and bacteria getting caught between your teeth. As it turns out, toothbrush storage is another factor that leads to bad oral hygiene. It's very important to store your toothbrush in a dry environment so that germs don't get accumulated over it, which means your toilet or bathroom might not be the best spot for it.

Goby/Unsplash | It's very important to store your toothbrush in a dry environment so that germs don't get accumulated over it

#3 - Sharing toothbrush? Why!?

Couples admit that sharing their toothbrush with their partner is exactly the same as sharing a kiss. First of all, that’s gross, and secondly, why anyone do that?! When you brush your teeth, the bacteria on the brush can linger around for a long time before dying. Now if you share your toothbrush with your significant other, you're exchanging germs with them and binviting even more health problems into your lives. Yikes!

Superkitina/Unsplash | If you share your toothbrush with your significant other, you're exchanging germs with them and birthing even bigger problems

Do yourself a favor…

If you haven’t thought of your oral hygiene seriously enough as of yet, it’s time you took notice. It’s important to never share your toothbrush or any oral hygiene items with your friends, spouses, etc. Follow a proper oral routine, and make sure to visit your local dentist on a regular basis.