Not even with a family member. But it takes more than sole proprietorship to avoid partnering infection, reports the Academy of General Dentistry .
Toothbrushes can become heavily contaminated with oral microorganisms.
Because most families store toothbrushes in a common storage space, airborne bacteria can move from toothbrush to toothbrush, passing opportunistic infections such as periodontal disease and the common cold from one person to another. Your best defense is to go undercover. Splattering water, contact with skin, and toothbrushes knocking against one another are all circumstances that contribute to the spread of bacteria. Dr. Glazer recommends rinsing bristles thoroughly, then shaking any extra moisture from the brush and storing it upright before placing a cover over the toothbrush head. Studies also show a link between self-contaminated toothbrushes and oral inflammatory diseases.