Healthy Lifestyle EatingWell in Real Life Coronavirus Should You Throw Away Your Toothbrush After Having COVID-19? Here’s what an epidemiologist says about tossing your toothbrush. By Jaime Milan Jaime Milan Jaime Milan is the deputy digital editor for Veranda. She was previously the senior news and lifestyle editor for EatingWell. In Jaime's spare time, you can find her cooking, gardening, antiquing, rearranging her house, watching Barefoot Contessa reruns, or playing with her (very adorable) mini Australian Shepherd, Gumbo. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 21, 2023 Reviewed by Dietitian Elizabeth Ward, M.S., RDN Reviewed by Dietitian Elizabeth Ward, M.S., RDN Elizabeth Ward is a registered dietitian and award-winning nutrition communicator and writer. She has authored or co-authored 10 books for consumers about nutrition at all stages of life. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Getty Images / Shana Novak / Radoslav Zilinsky. / Yuichiro Chino When I had COVID-19, I had a mild case but was still pretty sick. After I recovered, I had some pressing questions like: "How exactly should I disinfect my house?" "Will I ever be able to walk up my stairs again without feeling completely winded?" and "Should I throw away my toothbrush?" The last question stumped me the most because I typically toss my toothbrush after a bout of sickness. But since COVID-19 is a newer—and seemingly always evolving virus, I wondered if the toothbrush-tossing guidance was any different. So, I asked Bertha Hidalgo, Ph.D., M.P.H., an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, to weigh in. "The SARS-CoV-2 virus [which causes COVID-19], including the Omicron variant, is not very stable on surfaces. However, it is always a good idea to change toothbrushes or toothbrush heads after illness," says Hidalgo. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adds that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can survive for up to three days on common nonporous surfaces. So once you've recovered—or after about 10 days since you tested positive—it's worth swapping out your toothbrush for a new one—especially if you share a toothbrush holder with another person. In case you need a little more motivation to pick up a new toothbrush or swap out your toothbrush head, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends replacing yours every three to four months. Need to restock? These five replacement toothbrushes and toothbrush heads all get a seal of acceptance from the ADA. Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100 Rechargeable Electric Power Toothbrush Amazon ARM & HAMMER Spinbrush PRO+ Deep Clean Refills Amazon PRO-SYS® Soft Toothbrush for Adult with Sensitive Teeth & Gums Amazon Quip Adult Electric Toothbrush Amazon REACH Advanced Design Toothbrushes Amazon The situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to change quickly; it's possible that information or data has changed since publication. While EatingWell is trying to keep our stories as up to date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations by using the CDC, WHO and their local public health department as resources. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit