INDIANAPOLIS — Toothbrushes are supposed keep our mouths clean.
But are we keeping our toothbrushes clean?
13News collected eight samples from families with different bathroom setups. Some stored their toothbrushes on the countertop, while others put them inside of a cabinet.
During the process, we spun each toothbrush around in the solution to gather the bacteria.
Each family filled out forms, answering questions like, "How many feet apart is the toilet and the toothbrush storage?" and "Do you close the lid when flushing?"
Then, 13News took the samples to Indiana University School of Medicine, where researchers agreed to test just what is on the brushes.
Assistant professor Jay Vornhagen studies bacteria and how they make us sick.
One of his concerns: the toothbrush's proximity to a toilet.
"When you flush a toilet, all of the water does spray out," Vornhagen warned.
Vornhagen added if you are flushing your toilet uncovered and your toothbrush is close to that toilet, there is a lot of opportunity for those bacteria to go from your toilet onto your toothbrush.
Studies have looked at how far your toilet can spray during a flush.
For example, the University of Colorado Boulder tested the distance using a public restroom toilet and lasers to visualize the droplets.
Their research found droplets can shoot up close to 5 feet.
To test our toothbrushes, Vornhagen and his team took the bacteria from the samples and grew them into colonies so they could see them better.
Their results found bacteria mostly normal for a mouth. Remember, our bodies need good bacteria to fight off problems.
The researchers also spotted some areas of growth that raised concerns.
"Four of those eight samples had some kind of bacteria that may cause an infection under the right conditions," Vornhagen said. "Then on one sample, we did find a highly drug-resistant type of bacteria."
Drug-resistant bacteria can be threatening to people with compromised immune systems.
Vornhagen said the concerning bacteria may or may not be present on the toothbrush because a nearby toilet. However, it is worth noting the owner of the toothbrush said it was kept just a foot away from the flush.
He said to clean your toothbrush, there are two options.
"Just take that toothbrush, soak the head in hydrogen peroxide for about a minute and rinse it, and you're good to go," Vornhagen said.
The other option is to take warm, soapy water and wash the toothbrush like you would wash your hands.
Your takeaways?
Flush toilets with the lid down, disinfect toothbrushes biweekly and, according to the American Dental Association, toss the toothbrush every season.