Objective – Identify negative effects of microorganisms and how science has developed ways to overcome their
negative effects.
Ewww…People Don’t Wash Their What?
By Rebekah Sager
firsttoknow.com
You may want to think twice before shaking someone’s hand, opening a publicly used
door, or talking on your cell phone. Anything regularly touched by hands may be
covered with bacteria.
A recent study, observing more than 3,700 people in public restrooms, found only five
percent of people washed their hands after using the bathroom. When people wash
their hands, they only wash them for about 6 seconds. It is recommended that you
wash your hands vigorously for 15 to 20 seconds washing with soap and water. Thirtythree percent didn’t use soap, and 10 percent didn’t wash their hands at all.
“These findings were surprising to us because past research suggested that proper
hand washing is occurring at a much higher rate,” Carl Borchgrevink said.
Fifteen percent of men didn’t wash their hands. When they did, only 50 percent used
soap, compared with 78 percent of women.
People were less likely to wash their hands if the sink was dirty and more likely to wash
their hands earlier in the day. This may be because when people are out at night for a
meal or drinks, they are relaxed and hand washing becomes less important.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), hand washing is the single most
effective thing a person can do to reduce the spread of infectious diseases. Failure to
wash hands contributes to nearly 50 percent of all food borne illnesses.
Objective – Identify negative effects of microorganisms and how science has developed ways to overcome their
negative effects.
Objective – Identify negative effects of microorganisms and how science has developed ways to overcome their
negative effects.
7 Gross Things That Could Be On Your Toothbrush
Erin McCarthy
mentalfloss.com
Before you brush today, consider this: Poop is just the beginning of what could
possibly be hanging out on your toothbrush.
1. E. Coli
Guess what? If your bathroom has the sink and toilet in one room, and you flush with
the lid open, there is fecal matter on everything within a 5 to 6 foot radius. Flushing
sprays your poop. E. coli bacteria could land on your toothbrush. Brushing with an E.
coli on your toothbrush could make you sick. “This bacteria is associated with
[intestinal] disease,” says Dr. Maria Geisinger.
Diarrhea is one such illness. “In bathrooms, [researchers] looked at toothbrushes in
normal use between one and three months,” Geisinger says. “At the three-month
mark, they found E. coli colonies. That’s a good reminder to replace your toothbrush
every three months.”
Once bacteria form colonies, they’re harder to kill. The colonies on your toothbrush
are similar to the algae that grows at the bottom of the pool. “Your pool is full of
water—you can’t just swish it around and get that algae off,” Geisinger says. “It’s got
to be scrubbed off.”
Make sure to flush with the lid down. This will decrease the real crap on your
toothbrush. Be sure to wash your hands after you use the restroom and before you
brush to avoid transferring fecal matter to your toothbrush that way, Geisinger says,
and change your toothbrush every three months.
2. Staphylococcus aureus
This bacteria typically lives in your lungs and on your skin. Under the right conditions,
can be responsible for some pretty nasty stuff. “It’s often associated with [antibiotic
resistant] MRSA infections, which is flesh-eating bacteria,” Geisinger says. MRSA
occurs when bacteria enters the skin through an open wound. Most often, it affects
people who have other health problems. The problems might delay their bodies’
efforts to fight infection. This condition very rare, but you still don’t want the stuff
that could cause it on your toothbrush.
Objective – Identify negative effects of microorganisms and how science has developed ways to overcome their
negative effects.
3. Streptococcus mutans
It makes sense that this bacteria would be on your toothbrush—it’s responsible for
tooth decay. Keeping bacteria and other nasty stuff to a minimum on your toothbrush
could be as simple as what you buy. According to one study, “Toothbrushes with
lighter or clear bristles retain up to 50 percent less bacteria than colored toothbrush
bristles,” Geisinger says. And instead of brushes with fancy perforated or rubber
handles, opt for solid plastic handles which studies have shown “had less microbio
load than larger or perforated or multi-surface handles [because there are] fewer nooks
and crannies for the bacteria to hide in,” Geisinger says.
4. Food Debris
That thing you had for dinner last night? Yeah, it’s probably still on your toothbrush
the next morning … and now it’s food for the bacteria on there, too! (As are your
poop particles. Yuck.) Clear out bacteria by washing your brush before it goes in your
mouth in tap water or antibacterial mouth rinse.
5. and 6. Lactobacillus and Pseudomonas
“These are two bacteria that have been associated with pneumonia type infections,
particularly in hospital settings” where a patient is on a ventilator, Geisinger says.
Though Lactobacillus is considered a “friendly” bacteria—it’s sometimes used to treat
diarrhea and is present in foods and our own guts. It can also be linked to cavities and
tooth decay. Pseudomonas can cause eye infections if you use contacts and don't clean
them adequately.
Bacteria thrive on brushes that have worn bristles. It is recommend replacing your
toothbrush if the bristles are looking like they’ve seen better days—even if you haven’t
hit the three-month mark yet.
7. Moisture
One of the worst things you have on your toothbrush is moisture because it
encourages bacteria to grow. “There’s a drop in bacteria [on toothbrushes] after about
24 hours, and that’s really because the toothbrush dries out," Geisinger says. If you’re
using a toothbrush just once every 24 hours, it will stay nice and dry, and bacterial
loads will be low.
Another thing you shouldn’t do: Cover your toothbrush. “[C]overing toothbrushes or
putting them in your medicine cabinet does not allow them to dry out,” Geisinger says.
Objective – Identify negative effects of microorganisms and how science has developed ways to overcome their
negative effects.
Name ________________________________________________________
Handwashing and Toothbrushes Articles Worksheet
1. Anything regularly touched by hands may be covered with bacteria.
a. True
b. False
2. Only ____% of people washed their hands after using the bathroom.
a. 5
b. 10
c. 15
d. 20
3. For how long should you wash your hands after using the restroom?
a. 5 to 10 seconds
b. 10 to 15 seconds
c. 15 to 20 seconds
d. 20 to 25 seconds
4. What percentage of men and women used soap when washing their hands? (There
are two answers to this question.)
a. 50%
b. 58%
c. 70%
d. 78%
5. Failure to wash hands contributes to nearly _______% of all food borne illnesses.
a. 40
b. 50
c. 60
d. 70
Match the microbe with the disease it causes.
_____6. Haemophilus
A. Among other things, I love to give you pneumonia.
_____7. Hepatitis A
B. I can cause jaundice and diarrhea.
_____8. Pseudomonas
C. I can cause pink eye (highly contagious).
_____9. Shigella
D. I can infect wounds.
_____10. Staphylococcus
E. I cause diarrhea.
_____11. Streptococci
F. I'm delighted to give you a sore throat.
_____12. Streptococcus pneumonia G. Would you like a big zit or boil?
Objective – Identify negative effects of microorganisms and how science has developed ways to overcome their
negative effects.
13. If you bathroom has the sink and toilet in one room, and you flush with the lid
open, what is on everything within a 5 to 6 foot radius?
a. Fecal matter
b. Urine
c. Water
14. Which bacteria could land on your toothbrush?
a. E. coli
b. Lactobacillus. acidophilus
c. Staphylococcus aureus
d Streptococcus mutans
15. This bacteria typically lives in your lungs and on your skin.
a. E. coli
b. Lactobacillus. acidophilus
c. Staphylococcus aureus
d Streptococcus mutans
16. How could Staphylococcus aureus affect your body?
a. It could cause diarrhea.
b. I could affect the body’s efforts to fight infection.
c. It could cause bronchitis.
d. It could cause gum disease and cavities.
17. This bacteria is responsible for tooth decay.
a. E. coli
b. Lactobacillus. acidophilus
c. Staphylococcus aureus
d Streptococcus mutans
18. You don’t need to rinse you toothbrush in water or antibacterial mouth rinse to get
rid of food and poop particles.
a. True
b. False
19. You should never cover you toothbrush because it prevents it from drying.
a. True
b. False
Objective – Identify negative effects of microorganisms and how science has developed ways to overcome their
negative effects.
Handwashing and Toothbrushes Articles Worksheet – Key
1. Anything regularly touched by hands may be covered with bacteria.
a True
2. Only ____% of people washed their hands after using the bathroom.
a. 5
3. For how long should you wash your hands after using the restroom?
c. 15 to 20 seconds
4. What percentage of men and women used soap when washing their hands? (There
are two answers to this question.)
a. 50%; d. 78%
5. Failure to wash hands contributes to nearly _______% of all food borne illnesses.
b. 50
Match the microbe with the disease it causes.
C 6. Haemophilus
B 7. Hepatitis A
D 8. Pseudomonas
E 9. Shigella
G 10. Staphylococcus
F 11. Streptococci
Objective – Identify negative effects of microorganisms and how science has developed ways to overcome their
negative effects.
A 12. Streptococcus pneumonia
13. If you bathroom has the sink and toilet in one room, and you flush with the lid
open, what is on everything within a 5 to 6 foot radius?
a. Fecal matter
14. Which bacteria could land on your toothbrush?
a. E. coli
15. This bacteria typically lives in your lungs and on your skin.
c. Staphylococcus aureus
16. How could Staphylococcus aureus affect your body?
b. I could affect the body’s efforts to fight infection.
17. This bacteria is responsible for tooth decay.
d Streptococcus mutans
18. You don’t need to rinse you toothbrush in water or antibacterial mouth rinse to get
rid of food and poop particles.
b. False
19. You should never cover you toothbrush because it prevents it from drying.
a True
Objective – Identify negative effects of microorganisms and how science has developed ways to overcome their
negative effects.
Handwashing and Toothbrushes Articles Worksheet – Scoring
Guide
1. a (2 choices)
2a
3. c
4. a, d
5. b
6. C (7 choices)
7. B (7 choices)
8. D (7 choices)
9. E (7 choices)
10. G (7 choices)
11. F (7 choices)
12. A (7 choices)
13. a (3 choices)
14. a
15. c
16. b
17. d
18. d (2 choices)
19. a (2 choices)
Scoring Guide
19 – 4
16-18 – 3
13-15 – 2.5
10-12 – 2
8-9 – 1.5
6-7 – 1
1-5 – .5
0–0