‘Disgusting’: Common relationship act divides Aussies

Some questions are so big, they can divide a nation, and news.com.au has just stumbled upon a new one.

Some questions are so big, they can divide a nation, and whether or not you would share a toothbrush with your partner is one of them.

I very recently declared that, on occasion, like if I have forgotten my toothbrush and we’re away, I’ll use my boyfriend’s toothbrush for the weekend.

I thought this was pretty standard procedure. I mean, if you’re prepared to have sex with them, surely you can share a toothbrush when required.

Anyway, when I revealed this fact, it immediately divided my friend group, some random people at the pub I asked and even the news.com.au office.

One of my mates said they couldn’t believe I would do that, and added that sharing a toothbrush was “worse than sex” when it comes to sharing germs, and actually not comparable.

Pointing out that there is a big difference between giving oral and risking your oral hygiene.

Would you share a toothbrush with your partner? Picture: iStock

Another close friend (well I thought we were close friends) just said “yuck”, which was honestly very effective.

There’s nothing quite like being called yucky to shame a person.

Interestingly, though, among the outcry, there were also people like me, who did not think it was a big deal at all.

Some people saw it as a no-brainer to share a toothbrush if you forgot one, and one even said it wasn’t gross at all.

What became clear, though, was that I had stumbled on quite the hot-button issue by asking the simple question, “Would you share a toothbrush with your partner?”

This naturally made news.com.au head down to ask the good and tanned people of Bondi what they thought.

Some questions are so big, they can divide a nation, and whether or not you’d share a toothbrush with your partner is one of them. Picture: news.com.au

What became incredibly clear was that no one could agree on whether sharing your partner’s toothbrush is acceptable or the rankest act ever. Picture: news.com.au

One young woman in a bikini screwed up her face at the toothbrush question and let me know it was completely unacceptable behaviour.

“That is disgusting,” she said.

Would she ever share a toothbrush?

“No,” she said.

Moving on.

Another Gen Zer was a bit more relaxed about it.

“I don’t think it is gross,” she said.

“I think if it is every single day, then it is a no, but like on the odd occasion, and if you have forgotten your toothbrush, it is fine.”

Very reasonable.

The question was dividing the good people of Bondi. Picture: news.com.au

Everyone had their own opinion on the toothy matter. Picture: news.com.au

The vibe of no one agreeing continued.

One guy said it was fine, another Bondi-goer said it was only a “little bit gross” - not a ringing endorsement, but not outright horror.

A woman looking chic in all-black activewear shrugged, looked resigned, and said, “Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

Love that energy.

A young guy who stopped to chat said he would share only if he had no other choice, though he did look disgusted by the idea of it.

One woman who news.com.au asked actually looked traumatised to learn that people would share toothbrushes with their partners under any circumstances. 

“I would use my finger,” she declared.

One man who stopped said “of course” it was not gross to borrow your partner’s toothbrush, and then he dropped quite the X-rated bombshell.

Why?

“I’ve stuck my tongue up my partner’s ******,” he said.

OK, moving on.

One woman actually looked traumatised to learn that people would share toothbrushes with their partners under any circumstances. Picture: news.com.au

He said it was fine, but then his girlfriend made it clear, that they don’t share toothbrushes. Picture: news.com.au

What became incredibly clear is that no one could agree on whether sharing your partner’s toothbrush is acceptable or the rankest act ever.

So I went full investigative journalist and asked an expert if it was acceptable, in order to settle things once and for all.

If you think it is fine to share a toothbrush with your partner, prepare to be humbled, and a little freaked out.

Dr Vincent Candrawinata told news.com.au that under no circumstances should you share a toothbrush.

“The short answer to whether it’s okay to share a toothbrush is no; the long answer is absolutely no, even with your partner,” he said.

“It is a genuine health risk. A toothbrush is not just a cleaning tool. It is a bacterial sponge and essentially a group of tiny needles.

“When you brush, you create micro-abrasions on your gum, so the bristles pick up anything from saliva, food debris to viruses and bacteria.”

Dr Candrawinata was firmly against any toothbrush sharing of any kind. Picture: Supplied

Dr Candrawinata warned sharing a toothbrush means you’re sharing someone’s “oral microbiome”, which includes whatever they may be carrying, into your mouth.

“Don’t share a toothbrush, even with your partner, because while you may think, ‘well, if kissing is okay, this should be okay too’, you are wrong,” he said.

Dr Candrawinata stressed that you should not be sharing toothbrushes under any circumstances.

“If you are in a bind, say you’re travelling and there’s only one toothbrush for the two of you. This is what I would do: use your finger with toothpaste,” he said.

“Your oral microbiome is the gateway to your immune system, so it is extremely important that you protect it. Sharing a toothbrush is never worth the risk.”

Originally published as ‘Disgusting’: Common relationship act divides Aussies