In the last few months we’ve all been inundated with tips on how to avoid catching the swine flu, or the H1N1 influenza.

Wash your hands.

Sneeze into the crook of your arm instead of into your hands.

Avoid touching your face.

Now the folks at the nonprofit Maryland Children’s Oral Health Institute have collaborated with Valley Dental Pediatrics in Owings Mills to create a visual reference on keeping your toothbrush free of germs, called Project Clean Toothbrush: Important Tips to Help Prevent the Spread of Flu Germs (pdf).

It seems to make sense that if germs on your hands could wind up entering your system, then germs on your toothbrush have an even bigger chance of landing in your throat, courtesy of your twice-daily hygiene routine.

Here’s the drill (sorry, couldn’t resist the dental reference) on keeping your toothbrush germ-free:

1. Wash your hands before and after touching your toothbrush

2. Wash your toothbrush before and after every use. Start with hot water to soften the bristles and remove food particles, rub your finger over the bristles to get the rest of the gunk out, then run cold water over the bristles to regain firmness and possibly limit germ growth.

3. Disinfect your toothbrush daily in antibacterial mouthwash for 30 seconds.

Other germ killing options:

-Store your toothbrush in a hydrogen peroxide/water mix (1 tsp of peroxide to 1 cup of water); change mix daily

-Soak your toothbrush in vinegar once a week– but I’m thinking this could taste really gross with toothpaste next time you brush

-Use denture cleanser to sanitize your toothbrush

-And, the granddaddy of toothbrush cleaning methods, deep clean your toothbrush by securing it in the silverware rack the next time you run your dishwasher

A few more tips:

-Avoid side-by-side toothbrush storage; multiple toothbrushes should be kept inches apart

-Keep your toothbrush as far away from the toilet as possible to cut down on airborne bacteria from waste reaching your toothbrush. Always flush with the lid closed.

-Use toothpaste from a pump dispenser to avoid contact between the germs that might lurk on the toothpaste dispenser and the toothbrush

-Toss your toothbrush when you get sick.

It sounds like a lot of work to stay clear of the flu - regular or swine - but it beats trying to find the vaccine.