We don't only clean our teeth with toothpaste: a mistake has been identified that turns oral care into a nightmare.

A toothbrush is an item used by the majority of people on Earth at least twice a day. However, a new video might just make us view it in a different light — a scientist has revealed a disgusting mistake that many people across the globe continue to make day after day, as reported by Daily Mail.

According to Dr. Samuel Chowdhury from Singapore, there is one significant error that many individuals around the world still commit. The expert points out that the main issue is that people continue to store their toothbrushes near the toilet.

This arrangement may seem practical in the context of a shared bathroom. However, experts now believe that such "proximity" can expose our toothbrushes to everything from fecal matter to bacteria and viruses.

Previously, researchers have discovered that flushing a toilet can propel bacteria up to 1.8 meters high — if your toothbrush is located near the toilet, according to the expert, there is a chance that you are brushing your teeth with more than just toothpaste. One might assume that a toothbrush can be easily protected with a cover, but Dr. Chowdhury believes this is simply unacceptable.

In his explanations, the expert references a 2015 study that analyzed microbes on toothbrushes in a communal dormitory. At that time, the team examined a number of toothbrushes collected from the dorm and found that 60% of them actually contained fecal matter. Moreover, researchers discovered that toothbrush covers seemed to exacerbate the situation.

It might be assumed that covers can protect toothbrushes since they are enclosed. However, studies show that storing a toothbrush in a closed container increases bacterial load by creating a favorable environment for bacterial growth.

How to Keep Your Toothbrush Clean

To maintain the hygiene of your toothbrush, Dr. Chowdhury advises following a few simple rules, such as:

• keeping your toothbrush upright so that water drains properly;
• replacing your toothbrush every three to four months;
• keeping your toothbrush away from the toilet and closing the toilet lid while flushing;

The video was released shortly after scientists warned that flushing a toilet could release a vast number of tiny water droplets into the surrounding air.