Tossing Out the Old and Bringing In the New
古い歯ブラシを捨てて新しいものに交換を
With 2013 ending and 2014 beginning, it’s a great time to be talking about tossing out old things and bringing in new things. Many people donate their old clothing or furniture to get a tax benefit but today, I’m thinking of something much smaller…..Toothbrushes!
aaaaaYes, dear readers, you all know who you are. You, who keep your old toothbrush way past the proper time. You, who are embarrassed to have friends in your bathroom fearing they will see your yucky old toothbrush next to your sink.
aaaaaToothbrushes should be used for 3-4 months and then tossed out. People who brush hard may need to throw theirs out sooner. Children’s toothbrushes also should be replaced sooner than that. Bristles wear out and are no longer useful for keeping teeth clean. Old toothbrushes also collect a lot of bacteria and germs either from your own mouth or from the air.
aaaaaThe best way to clean your toothbrush is to rinse it under tap water after using it and store it bristles up. That way, the bristles can properly dry in between use to prevent germs growing. Also make sure that more than one toothbrush are not touching each other so germs are not transferred from one brush to another.
aaaaaIt’s also not recommended to share toothbrushes. The amount and types of bacteria in everyone’s mouths are not the same. If you have a cold or an illness, it’s best to replace your toothbrush after you get well. You don’t want to be re-infecting yourself!
aaaaaSo tonight, take a look at your old friend, your toothbrush. Is it looking like an old broom? Time to toss it out and give your mouth the gift of a new toothbrush!
What do I do with MY old toothbrushes? I use them to scrub my turtle’s shell. My turtle gets his “new” shell brush every 3 months!
aaaaaWishing all my readers a very healthy, happy and prosperous New Year! Thank you for reading my articles and I look forward to smiling together with you in 2014 !
（次回は１月第２週号掲載）
ucky 不快な
bristles 剛毛、荒毛
broom （歯ブラシの）ブラシ
【プロフィル】Dr. Clara Lee ニューヨーク大学歯学部卒業。ニューヨーク大学ブルックデール病院でチーフレジデンス修了。13年以上に及ぶ臨床経験は一般歯科、コスメティック、インプラントを含む。インビザライン認定医。Waterside Dental Care院長として古山医師と共に、多くの日本人患者さんを治療。Dentistryをこよなく愛している。記事提供：Waterside dental Care（Tel：212-683-6260）
