Lately the topic of sharing toothbrushes seems to be all over social media. Perhaps the debate was sparked by Sarah Silverman’s declaration that she and her partner share one toothbrush and it's totally great and they love it! 

But is sharing a toothbrush with your loved one really the best idea? 

Here are three reasons that you should be using your own toothbrush and not sharing with anyone else: 

1 - Longevity

Toothbrushes have short lifespans to begin with. In fact, most people aren’t changing their toothbrushes often enough. You should change your toothbrush every two to three months. 

If you are sharing with someone else, your toothbrush will break down faster meaning you are not getting as thorough of a cleaning every time. If you don’t change out the toothbrush often, both you and your loved one will be at risk of cavities and other dental issues. 

Using your own toothbrush means that your toothbrush will last the two to three months like it should. 

2 – Avoid germs

There are so many germs and bacteria that live in our mouth and then get transferred to our toothbrushes. When you use someone else’s toothbrush, you are getting all of their germs and bacteria too. Something that might not have affected them very much can wreak havoc on you. 

When you are sharing toothbrushes, you put yourself at risk for infections. There are several different diseases that are very easily spread through saliva like hepatitis B, oral herpes, and even HPV. 

3 – Avoid toothbrush mismatch

Your teeth may require a specific kind of toothbrush or a specific kind of brush head. Most of us are encouraged to use a soft brush, but there are some people who use a medium brush and need to for their specific teeth. If you and your loved one have different teeth and different toothbrush needs, one of you will be using the wrong kind of toothbrush if you share. There is no way to meet both of your needs in that scenario.

Using the wrong kind of toothbrush can cause damage to your teeth and gums over time. 



There is not really a good reason to share a toothbrush except for maybe convenience, but that one reason does not outweigh the reasons NOT to share a toothbrush with someone.

Using your own toothbrush, changing it regularly, and making regular dental appointments are just some of the ways that you can stay on top of your oral hygiene. Call us today to set up your next appointment!