Would you Share Your Toothbrush?
@desertdarlene (8910)
United States
February 29, 2008 8:16am CST
I remember seeing early Survivor shows where they would get a care package from their family and someone would get a couple of toothbrushes. Then, the whole "tribe" would share those one or two toothbrushes. To me, that's completely disgusting and I would rather go without. I've also heard of husbands and wives sharing toothbrushes and I wouldn't even do that, either.
Does anyone else share toothbrushes? Would you ever ask to borrow someone else's toothbrush?
4 people like this
23 responses
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
29 Feb 08
Yeah, if you are kissing them, anyway, I can see your point.
1 person likes this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
1 Mar 08
I could never share my toothbrush. EWWW!! The ick factor grosses me out. There are just somethings I will not share...my toothbrush is first on my list. Underwear, contacts (if I wore them), deoderant, cold sore medicine, lipstick and chapstick are a few others.
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
2 people like this
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
2 Mar 08
Oh, man, I forgot about contacts! And, I have heard of people borrowing lipstick. I get uneasy having a makeover because I don't know if that's new lipstick that they're putting on me.
1 person likes this
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
2 Mar 08
Oh, I forgot to say that I would share deodorant if it was the spray kind.
1 person likes this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
1 Mar 08
Oh yes, I agree with you.
I think that is completely disgusting too.
But those people are forsaking anything to try win the grand prize no?
I think sharing toothbrushes is only ok if you don't mind kissing that person because sharing it is basically sharing the virus and bacteria that accompany a kiss.
When I stay overnight at a friend's place, I will just squeeze some toothpaste on my finger and brush - if I didn't bring one with me.
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
1 Mar 08
That sounds like a good alternative.
As for the Survivor people, I think if they went without brushing for the month or so that they were on that show and then win the prize, they could afford to fix their teeth. :D
1 person likes this
@asawako48162 (3321)
• United States
2 Mar 08
no, it would not be a good thing to do. share a toothbrush is opening youself up to a lot of germs and disease. even combs and brushes i wonder about people who share.
But people used to eat and drink after other people. Schools had a common cup for drinking and churches used the same cup for the last supper..now most have changed to individual drinking plactic cups..shots?
the only thing i would share is a dental floss but only a new strip off the roll..not the part they used..lol
2 people like this
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
2 Mar 08
Yeah, you're right, people did share cups more often than the do now.
1 person likes this
@evelynarvelo30 (116)
• United States
24 Mar 08
I would NEVER EVER share a toothbrush...I would just clean my hands really good...and put toothpaste on it and clean my teeth with my fingers, I know it would not clean my teeth as well as with a toothbrush, but there are so many germs, in a human's mouth , that sharing toothbrush is just bad.
2 people like this
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
24 Mar 08
I think I would do the same thing if I didn't have a brush. 
1 person likes this
@bluecrystal1982 (235)
• Philippines
24 Mar 08
Personally I don't want to share toothbrush with anyone. I also don't borrow others toothbrush. I believe that toothbrush is for your own personal hygiene and should not be shared with anybody. But yeah I haven't heard of anyone who gets sick because of not using her own toothbrush. This is just my own belief. Thanks!
2 people like this
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
24 Mar 08
I haven't heard of anyone getting sick that definitely could be attributed to sharing toothbrushes, either. But, I do believe that someone can catch viruses and dental caries by sharing them probably at the same rate as if you were kissing the person on a regular basis.
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
25 Mar 08
I would never share my toothbrush with anyone, partner, friend or family member, that to me is totally unhygienic, I would rather go without cleaning my teeth than using someone else's brush, ewww that is disgusting, I could never do it. If I found out that someone had used my toothbrush I would throw it away, the mouth holds a lot of germs and bugs which are transferred onto the brush, it's not worth taking the chance.
2 people like this
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
29 Feb 08
Since the whole issue behind dental hygiene would, after careful research, seem to revolve around bacteria, not the cosmetic appearance of one's mouth, I would guess that it might be better for one's dental health to skip the brushing rather than to use another person's toothbrush. I wouldn't borrow anybody else's toothbrush, not even hubby's and I know he can be trusted not to borrow mine. I wouldn't share a razor blade either.
2 people like this
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
1 Mar 08
Yeah, I agree with you. If I were on Survivor, I would rinse my mouth out or something, instead.
1 person likes this
@bagumbayan (2705)
• Philippines
24 Mar 08
Me too, I wont use others toothbrushes, even my spouse or kids. If they use it, I wont dare use it again. To me it is something personal and sharing it is no healthy habits. Id rather use something on my mouth, mouthwash or gel for the mouth but not use others toothbrush.
@olivemai (4738)
• United States
25 Mar 08
I would definitely not want to share anybody else's toothbrush! It would be better to floss and gargle with hydrogen peroxide than to use someone else's brush!
@sophiasmom911 (1345)
• United States
29 Feb 08
well Not with just anyone, but if I was in the realationship with someone I dont really see too much of a diffrence if you kiss that person. But at the same time no I wouldnt share a toothbrush with my sister or friends. About the surivor thing and I was in that paticular sitaution then I would and thats because I cant go days without brushing my teeth.
2 people like this
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
29 Feb 08
I know what you mean, I have tooth and gum problems and I need to brush my teeth. But, if I use the same toothbrush as everyone else, I'm also getting all the bacteria from their mouths, too.
1 person likes this
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
3 Apr 08
I definitely agree with you. It's the exact same thing in my eyes, too. But, still, there are people who do this who don't seem to think it's a big deal.@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
3 Apr 08
I once had a boyfriend who wanted me to chew gum that he had, had in his mouth, I told him I would not do that, I don't understand why he would want me to do that and it was very disgusting. He chewed some gum that I had chewed and I almost threw up. I had to break up with him, that was just too gross to me and he could not understand why. He thought it intimate to share food for some strange reason. Gross. I can't eve stand seeing someone spit out gum at a water fountain, I won't drink out of a water fountain with chewed up gum, I don't want stuff from other people's mouth any where near me. Yet I will let a dog lick my face, go figure.
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
30 Mar 08
Share my toothbrush with a tribe of people no way. Imagine the germs that are passing between mouths. When I was younger and we went out to the country and forgot our toothbrushes we took our finger and scrubbed our teeth. It may not been the same effect as a toothbrush but it did get our teeth reasonable clean and then soon as we got either to a store or back home we gave our teeth a good toothbrush cleaning. Sharing a toothbrush with a whole tribe of people is utterly disgusting and I would not be able to bring myself to do that.
1 person likes this
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
30 Mar 08
I know when I saw it, I couldn't believe it. But, I've heard of other people borrowing toothbrushes. It gave me a lot to think about and it was why I started this thread.
@Dasari100 (3791)
• Anantapur, India
6 Apr 08
I don't share my toothbrush. Yes husbands and wives can share there toothbrushes it is up to there choice to exchange there brushes. you gave good reply to me.
@jesbellaine (4139)
• Philippines
12 Apr 08
No, I don't like sharing my toothbrush.. I don't know, I just don't like it! It is not comfortable for me.
1 person likes this
@10tacl3 (227)
• Romania
12 Apr 08
man, that's the most disgusting thing i've ever heard...the toothbrush it's something personal :| you can't just simply share it with a hole bunch of people. it has your own jerms, bacterias and other things :| i definetly won't share mine :)) one day i found my toothbrush put in other place than i put it, and when i asked my mother if she used it..she said yes and i threw it in the toilet and flushed it :)) i don't want to take her jerms and other things like this :P
1 person likes this
