Types of Bacteria Found on Toothbrushes

Scientists have found more than 10 million bacteria living on a single toothbrush. That's as many as you'd find on a toilet brush. Toilet bacteria and toothbrushes have direct contact because of the evaporated toilet water that is in the air of your bathroom. The odds of contamination are higher if your bathroom is poorly ventilated. Toothbrushes usually become contaminated in as little as one week to one month after the first use and contain several dangerous bacteria.

Influenza Virus

• Influenza can cause serious illness.

  Influenza virus, often found on toothbrushes, is an illness caused by RNA viruses (viruses that have ribonucleic acid as their genetic material) that infect the respiratory tract. Influenza symptoms include fever, cough, headache and fatigue. Some people develop sore throat, vomiting and diarrhea. According to Medicine Net, influenza can result in more serious illness and even death.

Herpes Simplex I

• Herpes simplex I causes blisters in and around the mouth.

  Herpes simplex virus I (HSVI) causes infection that can affect the mouth, face and skin. Many can have the virus without symptoms, but for some, blisters (called cold sores or fever blisters) appear near the area where the virus entered the body. In the case of a toothbrush, this means in and around the mouth. Herpes infections tend to recur as often as once a month.

Streptococci Bacteria

• Streptococcal bacteria on your toothbrush can lead to strep throat.

  Streptococcal infections range from mild causing a sore throat, to deadly, causing necrotizing fasciitis (the 'flesh eating' disease). According to Medicine Net, there are more than twenty types of streptococcal bacteria, but group A, affecting the skin and throat, is the type that is commonly found on your toothbrush. This type causes strep throat and minor skin infections like impetigo. Type A can cause more serious problems if it goes further into the body, such as into your blood, and can lead to meningitis or pneumonia.

Staphylococci Bacteria

• Staphylococci bacteria cause abscesses, boils, and skin infections. Most staphylococci bacteria are resistant to antibiotics, which make them difficult to treat if they become serious.

E. Coli

• E. coli (Escherichia coli) is a bacteria typically found in the intestines. It is not harmful when inside the intestine and colon, but once outside, E. coli bacteria can spread disease. E. coli can be spread from person to person via excrement, and this is how it ends up on your toothbrush. Symptoms of E. coli infection include bloody diarrhea and severe abdominal pain and tenderness with no fever.

Candida Albicans

• Candida albicans is a yeast that lives in the mouth, throat, intestines and genitourinary tract (organ system of reproductive and urinary tracts) and is considered to be a normal part of the organisms in our lower digestive tract. A healthy immune system keeps the growth of yeast in check, and candida produces no symptoms. But according to Pediatric Dental Health, if the immune system is weak, a condition called oral thrush may result. The candida virus can thrive in the perfect environment your toothbrush provides. It can cause many illnesses marked by a range of symptoms. These might be mild like nasal congestion, blisters in the mouth, sore throat or abdominal pain, or they can be serious like fatigue, dizziness and mood swings.

Coliform Bacteria

• Coliform bacteria found on your tooth brush typically come from fecal matter. The presence of this bacterium may not be harmful itself, but if fecal coliform is found, it means that you likely have other disease-causing organisms along with it.

Preventing Toothbrush Contamination

• To prevent toothbrush contamination, Pediatric Dental health recommends that you change your toothbrush at least every three months. If anyone in your home becomes ill, change toothbrushes as soon as possible. Store toothbrushes in a well ventilated place and never place in a sealed container. Disinfect your toothbrush daily by placing toothbrushes overnight in a household bleach solution (1 part bleach to 4 parts water). Rinse in clean water and allow to air dry. You can also clean toothbrushes by running them through the dishwasher each night and allowing to air dry.