Bizarre uses for a toothbrush

When your toothbrush is at the end of its days, don't throw it away just yet, as a survey has revealed the many other uses for an old toothbrush.

A survey of more than 1,000 people by the Dental Health Foundation found that more than four in every five people re-use their toothbrush for another purpose.

Four in ten people use an old toothbrush for scrubbing bathroom tiles, and almost a third use it to clean kitchen appliances.

More than a quarter of those questioned use them to clean jewellery, and roughly one in every five use them for shining shoes.

Some other uses for toothbrushes included cleaning bikes, computer keyboards, toilets and toilets seats, fish tanks and finger nails.

The survey also found that the age of the owner can determine what happens to a toothbrush after it is past its sell by date.

People over 75 are three times more likely to re-use their toothbrush for a different purpose than those between the ages of 16 and 34 and twice more likely than those between 35 and 44.

Additionally, women are a third more likely to reuse their toothbrush for chores and other uses than their male counterparts.

Some women admitted to using them to apply hair dye while some men said they used an old toothbrush to clean the dog’s teeth or give the golf clubs a sharp polish.

Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter, said: “We all should get through around four toothbrushes every year if we are to keep our oral health in tip-top condition.

Generally people don’t change their toothbrushes often enough, but there are still plenty lying around the house and our survey has shown that people realise that a toothbrush has a value and role to play beyond their normal life and use.”

The survey was carried out to promote National Smile Month.

This article was published on Tue 31 May 2011