Ah, the mysterious world of germs! It's true, there are some items that we use daily and, without knowing it, they are great vectors of bacteria and fungi, especially those that we, without any shame, put in our mouths!
The toilet seat always gets the fame, but you'd be surprised what else out there rivals it in terms of dirtiness. Let’s unveil some of these items that outperform the bathroom in the “bacteria race”.
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(Image: Shutterstock/reproduction)
We start with a personal object: the toothbrush. Although it is a cleaning instrument, it is far from clean.
Often stored near the toilet, brushes can catch airborne germs after each flush. Additionally, humidity provides the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive. The solution? Store it in a closet and keep it away from the bathroom.
Despite the popularization of digital payment methods, such as credit cards and transfers via Pix, it is still common to see money passing from hand to hand, traveling more than a global tourist. Banknotes and coins accumulate germs of all types, considering they are rarely cleaned and circulate for years.
If you put a bill in your mouth, perhaps to hold it while your hands are busy, you are essentially participating in an international exchange of bacteria.
Biting your nails is a common habit, but what hides beneath them is not at all pleasant. Nails accumulate dirt and germs that come into direct contact with the mouth through this nervous habit.
It is a continuous cycle of contamination that we often ignore. Keeping your nails short and clean is a good start to breaking this chain.
How many times have you put a pen in your mouth, thinking about the answer to a problem or while reading something with concentration? Pens come out of bags, pass through tables, fall to the floor and, yes, end up in your mouth.
Not to mention when we lend them! We never know where they went, but they certainly carried a collection of microbes with them.
Our cell phones are with us everywhere, including in the most intimate moments. Research shows that cell phones can have up to ten times more bacteria than the lid of a cell phone. toilet.
We, without thinking, constantly bring these objects to our face and mouth. Regular cleaning with isopropyl alcohol can help keep these unwanted intruders at bay.
Finally, our keys. They are everywhere: pockets, bags, tables, locks and, of course, occasionally, in the mouth.
Think about this the next time you hold your keys in your teeth while searching for something in your bag. They are public transportation for germs.
While the toilet seat continues to reign in the popular imagination as the throne of bacteria, everyday life is full of worthy competitors.
Awareness and small changes in habits, such as regularly cleaning everyday objects and avoiding carrying hands to mouth, can make a big difference in your exposure to these fascinating microscopic worlds of germs!
