Should you change your toothbrush after recovering from COVID-19? Know what dentists recommend

Team Udayavani, May 9, 2021, 5:35 PM IST

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Dentists recommend that a person who has recently recovered from COVID-19 should immediately change their toothbrush. According to dentists, doing so can save the person from re-infection and also save the others who use the same washroom.

COVID-19 spreads through droplets released when a person sneezes, cough, shouts, talks, etc. As the virus is airborne, the virus can stay in the air for a while and be transmitted to other people. The virus can spread through toothbrush as it can have a high concentration of SARS-CoV-2.

Dr. Harsha R Shetty, Dental Surgeon at Shree Harsha Dental wing, Gandhi hospital, Udupi, explains, “Anyone who has recovered from COVID-19 must change their toothbrush as the virus may be embedded on the surface thus increasing the chance of re-infection.”

He further adds that this is also recommended to people who have been infected with flu, cough, and the likes, to change their toothbrush and other oral hygiene products like tongue cleaners upon recovery. He says this must be done for safety as well as hygienic reasons.

Talking about the social media posts that promote washing the mouth with saltwater or betadine, Dr Harsha says that it helps to reduce the build-up of the virus.

Dr Harsha suggests the use of  Povidone-iodine mouthwash or Chlorhexidine mouthwash, which are easily available in medical stores.