Everyone knows to replace their toothbrush "every so often", right? More specifically, according to the American Dental Association, "every so often" is every 3-4 months. Sonicare actually recommends every three months, so it's easy to remember with each season to get a new brush. My question is -- do you throw that old toothbrush in the trash, or do you give it a new life by giving it a new purpose??
Here are some of my favorite ways to make your old toothbrush feel useful:
1. Clean things, duh! Obviously separate the old toothbrush from any you currently use for your mouth... but old brushes are awesome at getting into any of those hard to reach spots. Examples? Tile grout, kitchen gadgets like a cheese grater, grooves or treads in shoes, cups or appliances that are too narrow for your hand to reach with a sponge, fish tanks, window edges, computer keyboards, toilets, lint buildup from hairdryers (I do this all the time), jewelery...this list can go on and on if you're creative.
2. Artwork. Toothbrush bristles can give you or your child some different patterns on paper or canvas. If you can control the potential mess, some people use toothbrushes for the "splatter" effect in artwork. **If you do make artwork with your toothbrush, be sure to take a picture (a picture of a picture?? haha) and post it on our Facebook!! We'd absolutely love to see your inner Picasso!**
3. Lookin' sexy. Got your attention on this one, huh? If you don't have non-existent eyebrows like I do, then toothbrushes are great at brushing and taming the eyebrows. Much cheaper and just as effective as the brow brushes you can buy at your local makeup counter. The other awesome use is to help exfoliate your luscious lips. Sometimes we just can't help the chapped lips, so use some warm water and gently brush your lips to slough the dead skin off (not sexy). You may also use a toothbrush to help clean out the crud (technical term hah) from under your nails. (I sure am not eager to share chips with someone who has dark crud under the nails, no thank you.)
4. I have never tried this tip, but someone I met through work recently swore it works -- to get a splinter out, use hot water and soap on the toothbrush, then gentle rub over the splinter.
5. Butt scratcher... just kidding!! And no, I have not tried that either. If you find you hate all the above tips, you may be able to just recycle your toothbrush, depending on what it's made of (not all plastics are recyclable). I'm a kid of the 90's, so I have Recycle Rex in my head singing, "Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, and close the loop..." Lame, I know.
Any of these tips sound good? Do you have any tips I didn't mention? Feel free to post them on this blog or go to our Facebook! I'd love to hear from you.
Happy Brushing
Tracie
