Some people picked up the habit early on. Maybe you had a big family growing up, which meant you only had a few precious minutes in the bathroom before a sibling would start pounding at the door. These days, you may have kids to take to school or a job that starts early in the morning, meaning you still only have a few precious minutes before responsibilities start pounding at the door. One quick way to make sure you stay on top of your oral hygiene habits even during high-pressure mornings is to brush your teeth while you’re in the shower.
While there’s no evidence that there are any drawbacks to brushing your teeth in the shower, it’s important that no matter where you brush, you do a thorough job for an entire two minutes (most people brush for 30 seconds on average). Some people claim that by brushing while they’re under the relaxing stream of water, they actually pay more attention to how they’re brushing and are less rushed or distracted during the process. Another benefit is that you don’t get toothpaste on your clothes (that you may not discover until lunchtime).
One problem that could arise, however, is that if you leave your toothbrush in the shower, it’s not going to dry out thoroughly. Keep in mind that bacteria thrive on damp and dark places and toothbrushes are the perfect place for germs to start thriving, some of which could be very dangerous. Although you can brush and rinse in the shower, it’s best to take your toothbrush with you when you get out.
Finally, regardless of when and where you brush, it’s important to floss in order to clean the areas of your teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach. Again, there’s no specific reason why this also can’t be done in the shower, but is somehow less common. As long as you have a solid oral care routine and visit your dentist regularly, you’re taking steps towards a healthy mouth.