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AIBU?

AIBU to replace toothbrushes after illness?

14 replies

jadziadax · 12/05/2010 02:22

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?

OP posts:
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MadamDeathstare · 12/05/2010 02:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SofiaAmes · 12/05/2010 04:55

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).

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gtamom · 12/05/2010 06:18

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.

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SofiaAmes · 12/05/2010 07:09

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.

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marantha · 12/05/2010 07:59

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

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phoenixflower · 12/05/2010 08:01

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

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QSnondomicile · 12/05/2010 08:04

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)

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GoldenSnitch · 12/05/2010 08:14

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.

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MadamDeathstare · 12/05/2010 14:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jadziadax · 12/05/2010 23:32

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.

OP posts:
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Plumm · 12/05/2010 23:34

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

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BritFish · 13/05/2010 01:40

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]

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SofiaAmes · 14/05/2010 08:13

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

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oldandgreynow · 14/05/2010 09:23

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!

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