New study suggests that a quarter of Brits are willing to share their toothbrush
A new study suggests that more than a quarter of Brits are willing to share their toothbrush.
The poll, which was carried out by the Oral Health Foundation in conjunction with Phillips for National Smile Month, revealed that 26% of participants would be open to sharing their toothbrush with a friend, a family member, or even a celebrity.
The survey found that men are more generous when it comes to their sharing habits, with 32% saying that they would offer their brush to others compared to just 20% of women. Young people are also much more likely to share than their older counterparts. Over 50% of young adults said that they would happily give their toothbrush to somebody else, compared to 30% of middle-aged people and 13% of senior citizens.
Despite the fact that sharing is usually encouraged within wider society, dentists are eager to warn of the potential dangers of using the same toothbrushes as friends and family. Dr Ben Atkins, a dentist and trustee of the Oral Health Foundation, said that it’s not ideal to share brushes, even though it may seem like a kind thing to do. If you use the same toothbrush as a partner, a friend, or even a stranger, there’s a risk of being exposed to dental and general health problems. Brushing can cause the gums to bleed, and if this is the case, sharing toothbrushes can put you at risk of exposure to a vast array of potentially harmful bacteria and viruses.
Sometimes, there’s no option to borrow a brush if you haven’t got your own to hand, but the advice from dentists is to make sure that you keep your brush to yourself whenever possible.
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