If you’re using a communal bathroom, there may reoprtedly be traces of fecal matter on your toothbrush, according to a new study.
A study conducted by researchers at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut found that regardless of how the students kept their toothbrushes, at least 60 percent of the toothbrushes were contaminated with fecal matter, according to the Chicago Tribune.
If you’re sharing a bathroom, there is an 80 percent chance that the fecal bacteria came from your roommate, according to the Huffington Post.
“The main concern is not with the presence of your fecal matter on your toothbrush, but rather when a toothbrush is contaminated with fecal matter from someone else, which contains bacteria, viruses or parasites that are not part of your normal flora,” stated Lauren Aber, a graduate student at the university.
For the recent study, researchers reportedly analyzed toothbrushes from students who used communal bathrooms with an average of more than nine users per bathroom.
Using a toothbrush cover may not be the way to go to prevent bacteria from developing. The best way to protect your toothbrush would be to avoid sharing toothbrushes, rinsing the brush after using and allowing to air-dry upright, and replacing brushes at least every four months, according to The American Dental Association.
“Using a toothbrush cover doesn’t protect a toothbrush from bacterial growth but actually creates an environment where bacteria are better suited to grow by keeping the bristles moist and not allowing the head of the toothbrush to dry out between uses,” stated Aber.
“Better hygiene practices are recommended for students who share bathrooms both in the storage of their toothbrush but also in personal hygiene.”