Brushing my teeth at work giving me mouth sores

[Jamthenurse]

I have to ask, and it's a little gross. I can't work a 12 hour shift and have lunch, coffee, etc without brushing my teeth a few times (some of my peers who work closely with people have dragon breath btw). So I use the staff bathroom. I rinse my toothbrush in the sink. And I get cold sores in my mouth. Once or twice I've caught colds and I suspect the sink for that as well. I'm guessing the spout is a disgusting tube full of spit and germs and whatever has rubbed off people's hands. Of course it is.

So what choice is there? I used to sterilize my toothbrush is the microwave and that just made everyone else PO'ed when they'd see me doing it. So am I the only nurse who brushes teeth? Is there an alternative that doesn't involve me getting canker sores? What do some of you do?

[morecoffeepls, BSN, RN]

bottled water?

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Toothettes (not expensive, disposable, gets a basic scrub done)

Gum (on break- not a wad in with a patient) :)

Individual toothbrushes (about 4" long with pre-applied tooth paste, and use bottled water)

Dip your toothbrush in Listerine- and use that; it also can be used to pour over the brush.

I did not brush my teeth during shifts; I also don't drink coffee, and seldom had time for more than yogurt or a quick non-garlic frozen entree, turkey sandwich, or the like.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

I have never heard of getting canker sores from using a particular sink.

I would be POd at you too if I saw you putting your used toothbrush in the microwave that we use for our food. That's just gross. You can't sterilize anything unless it has reached 250 degrees, BTW.

I like the suggestion of bottled water. Can't go wrong there. And if you feel strongly about having your toothbrush 'sterile', then either use a new one everyday or you could pour some alcohol over your brush when you are done, then just rinse it with bottled water prior to next use.

[merlee]

Ask your dentist for some advice. Maybe you have a vitamin deficiency that causes the canker sores.

Use toothettes. Or now there is a disposable product called 'wisp'.

Best Wishes!

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

I have to ask, and it's a little gross. I can't work a 12 hour shift and have lunch, coffee, etc without brushing my teeth a few times (some of my peers who work closely with people have dragon breath btw). So I use the staff bathroom. I rinse my toothbrush in the sink. And I get cold sores in my mouth. Once or twice I've caught colds and I suspect the sink for that as well. I'm guessing the spout is a disgusting tube full of spit and germs and whatever has rubbed off people's hands. Of course it is.

So what choice is there? I used to sterilize my toothbrush is the microwave and that just made everyone else PO'ed when they'd see me doing it. So am I the only nurse who brushes teeth? Is there an alternative that doesn't involve me getting canker sores? What do some of you do?

Canker sores are not caused by a virus or bacteria, so the sink is not "giving" you the sores. Or are you getting cold sores? You mention both, but they are VERY different. You also can't "sterilize" your toothbrush in the microwave. Zap some germs? Sure. Sterilize? Nope.

Is there another sink you can use? Can housekeeping do a better job on the staff one? Otherwise I'd suggest accquiring some disposable brushes, Colgate makes one called Wisps. Then maybe rinse with bottled water.

[nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN]

You can get cheap toothbrushes from the dollar store. However, I wouldn't brush my teeth at work because water splashes in the sink, and all it takes is one drop with god knows what on it on that toothbrush, and you've put it right on broken skin or mucous membranes. EEK!

[gatoraims RN]

I use CVS brand disposable toothbrushes. They are tiny. On one end they have floss on the other a tiny toothbrush preloaded with paste.

You could also just rinse with mouthwash, sure it is not the same but it helps.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

Get your mouth to a dentist for a dx. IMHO this needs to be treated and not passed around.

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

I have to ask, and it's a little gross. I can't work a 12 hour shift and have lunch, coffee, etc without brushing my teeth a few times (some of my peers who work closely with people have dragon breath btw). So I use the staff bathroom. I rinse my toothbrush in the sink. And I get cold sores in my mouth. Once or twice I've caught colds and I suspect the sink for that as well. I'm guessing the spout is a disgusting tube full of spit and germs and whatever has rubbed off people's hands. Of course it is.

So what choice is there? I used to sterilize my toothbrush is the microwave and that just made everyone else PO'ed when they'd see me doing it. So am I the only nurse who brushes teeth? Is there an alternative that doesn't involve me getting canker sores? What do some of you do?

I am a little confused by this. How would that many nasty germs, etc, end up on the spout? It doesn't get touched. Not saying that germs/water can't splash, but I have a hard time believing it's that much and that frequent that they're always present and ready to infect you. If you're not setting your toothbrush anywhere on the sink, I have a difficult time making the connection between the brushing at work and the cold sores (or is it canker sores? You mention both, but they are two different things).

I also have a hard time believing you are the ONLY nurse that brushes his or her teeth.

You mention brushing at work a "few times" while at work, and I assume that you are brushing at least twice at home (in the morning and before bed). Perhaps you are irritating your mouth by brushing too much. I'm not sure if it works the same way that say, too much cleaning in certain personal areas can cause irritation or infection. I don't know if you can adversely affect the normal flora in your mouth by brushing too often, but I certainly would think you can make the area more sensitive from the mechanical action of brushing. I would try laying off the frequency a bit and see what happens.

I would be ticked off too, if I saw someone microwaving their toothbrush at work. Especially since you believe that your toothbrush is picking up sore-causing germs. Now you just spread those nasty germs to the microwave, where the heat will cause them to proliferate and where everyone puts their food. Gross; shame on you.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Let's think this through logically ...

What temperature is required to "sterilize"?

What temperature is the plastic toothbrush when you take it out of the microwave?

Is it likely that you are accomplishing anything other than breaking down the plastic, which was not designed to be subjected to microwave action?

I strongly suggest that your cold sores and/or canker sores (yes, they are two different things) are not being caused by the toothbrush, the sink, the water, or anything else about your work toothbrushing environment.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

So which is it? Cold sores, or canker sores? They're two different things, and most likely, you're not getting them from the sink. You need to see your PCP.

As far as an alternative, just bring your own bottled water to rinse your brush and mouth with, like people do when they travel abroad.