We’re all taught as children that sharing is a good thing, and that being prepared to share is a signal that you care about the person you’re sharing with. But, while being open to sharing your belongings is undoubtedly noble, should you really share everything, or is it OK, or even recommended, to keep some things to yourself? We recently conducted research that explores this very topic to find out how much of our lives we’re prepared to offer up and share with others, from confessing our secret spending habits and asking for help to sharing personal items. The results were fascinating!
When it comes to sharing personal items, there’s a scale of what we’re happy to hand over, and what we’d rather keep to ourselves. The toothbrush, perhaps unsurprisingly, was the item we’re least prepared to share, with our insight showing that just 31% of Brits either already share, or would consider sharing a toothbrush with their other half. Perhaps this figure seems high, or perhaps part of you thinks, well, why not share? You get up close and personal with this person already; what’s a toothbrush between two people who love each other?
Well, we might be about to put you off sharing a toothbrush, or anything else, for life.
Germ central
According to research by National Smile Month, sharing a toothbrush invites a whole host of germs and bacteria into your mouth that you won’t usually pick up otherwise. This is not least because of the environment we keep our toothbrushes in. Warm and damp surroundings like a bathroom are a breeding ground for bacteria. Eww.
Among the worst of the germs sharing a toothbrush could expose you to are blood-stream diseases like hepatitis B, which you could catch if one of you is infected and either or both of you find your gums bleed during brushing. You can also be exposed to bacteria that increase your risk of cavities. At the less terrifying end of the spectrum are your everyday cold and cold sore viruses, but even though these are less scary-sounding, do you really want to put yourself at risk of any germs you could easily avoid?
Prevention is better than cure!
People have all sorts of reasons for sharing a toothbrush with their other half. It could be a simple case of accidentally picking up their brush while bleary eyed in the morning, or forgetfulness upon arriving for a weekend away. Or it could be an attempt cut a seemingly unnecessary expense and squeeze a few extra pounds out of your monthly budget. Whatever the reason, the cost of medical or dental care and potential loss of earnings you might incur will be far more than the £8 a year it’s estimated the average Brit needs to spend on toothbrushes in order to have a new one once every three months. As the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure, so spending a little now can save you a lot later.
If your toothbrush doesn’t seem completely worn out at the end of three months, you don’t have to throw it away. You can repurpose it as a tiny scrubbing brush for awkward nooks and crannies!
Would you go as far as sharing a toothbrush with your partner? Let us know in the comments!
