How to Sanitize a Travel Toothbrush Holder

Kathryn Walsh, Leaf Group Updated March 13, 2019

Dental hygiene doesn't take a vacation, so that trusty toothbrush and toothpaste have to go everywhere with you. And "everywhere" includes hotel counters, airport bathrooms and your suitcase next to your dirty laundry. Yikes. Buying a travel toothbrush holder will help protect your brush from those germs, but if it's germy itself, it can't be effective. The best way to keep a toothbrush clean? Clean and sanitize its case before and after every trip.

Sanitizing a Travel Toothbrush Holder

Because travel toothbrush holders are made of hard plastic, they're super easy to clean. Rinse yours in hot water to loosen any gunk; then wash it with dish soap or soak it in antibacterial mouthwash for 10 to 15 minutes.

Assuming it's a standard plastic version, your holder also shouldn't be damaged by going through the dishwasher. If you're really concerned about banishing any lingering germs, tuck it into the silverware section before running the dishwasher.

If that sounds like too much effort, another option is to buy a travel sanitizer for your brush. These tiny gadgets completely enclose the head of the brush, protecting and sanitizing the bristles. These holders have changeable liners so there's rarely a need to wash the holder itself.

Sanitizing a Toothbrush

Of course, keeping your toothbrush holder clean doesn't matter much if the brush itself is unclean. One thing that dentists often stress is the importance of storing the brush standing up in a way that keeps it from making contact with someone else's toothbrush.

Generally, though, it's not necessary to worry too much about ridding your brush of germs after every use. Dentists say it's normal and healthy for bacteria from your mouth to stay on your brush because some bacteria is important for your oral hygiene.

Some people are comforted by throwing a toothbrush in the dishwasher or soaking it in boiling water, thinking that these methods will destroy all germs. Neither of these techniques is likely to harm your brush, but they probably won't make a tremendous difference in terms of cleanliness either. The best thing you can do to make sure your brush is in peak condition is to store it properly and to replace it every few months or whenever the bristles start to look frayed (whichever comes first), and immediately after you've recovered from an infection of any kind.

More Dental Health Travel Tips

When you're moving from place to place, get in the habit of unpacking your toothbrush and removing its case as soon as you get settled into your new room. Moist, dark spaces are breeding grounds for germs, so letting the brush dry out between uses is important.

Be mindful that you store the brush upright rather than placing it directly on a surface like a hotel counter. Either travel with a brush that has an attached suction cup that can be used to stick it to a mirror, or fashion your own toothbrush holder by punching a hole through a paper cup, placing the cup upside-down and standing the brush in the hole.

And if keeping track of a brush, toothpaste and case is too much trouble, another option is to buy a bulk package of pre-pasted toothbrushes. Pull one out, brush with it and toss it. This option is wasteful and more expensive than using the same brush each time, but for some travelers, it might make sense.




About the Author


Photo Credits