Are you about to brush your teeth? Have you brushed your teeth today?
Most likely there were poop particles on the follicles of it. Sorry to break it to you.
A recent study from Quinnipiac University found that over 60% of toothbrushes they tested in a communal bathroom in their university tested positive for fecal bacteria.
Not only that, the researchers calculated an 80% chance that if you share a bathroom with some, the other person's poop particles will land on your toothbrush.
Lauren Abner, one of the researchers on the project, stated that the concern "is not with the presence of your own fecal matter on your toothbrush, but rather when a toothbrush is contaminated with fecal matter from someone else, which contains bacteria, viruses or parasites that are not part of your normal flora."
Flora. Is that like flowers? Does our poop literally smell of flowers?
Abner goes on to explain that "using a toothbrush cover doesn't protect a toothbrush from bacterial growth, but actually creates an environment where bacteria are better suited to grow by keeping the bristles moist and not allowing the head of the toothbrush to dry out between uses."
We're still stuck on the fact there's poop on our toothbrush.
Scientists have long believed that reusing toothbrushes are the cause of cavities and infection of the mouth and recommend regularly changing your toothbrush to avoid such a thing.
If it means there being no poo on our brush, we'll do anything.
Via ScienceDaily
