The health hazards lurking in your bathroom

It's often the place you go to when you feel under the weather, but Jo Dunbar finds where you keep the likes of medicines and creams may not be as safe as you think

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Be honest. When was the last time you decluttered your bathroom? The chances are you are hanging on to long forgotten skincare, dried up toothpaste and even long-lost tablets.

And as well taking up valuable space, keeping and using these out-of-date products could be harming your health. So what should you do about it?

Toothbrush refresh:

They're a bathroom staple, but are you replacing your toothbrush regularly? Good dental hygiene hinges on effective teeth brushing and Nyree Whitley, chief clinical officer at mydentist.co.uk, says: "It's recommended you change your toothbrush or toothbrush head every two to three months.

"That will ensure you're getting a deep enough clean through your toothbrushing routine, which should be brushing your teeth for two minutes, twice a day.

"Generally, if your toothbrush bristles look worn down or no longer stand up straight, you should replace it."

There could be other dental products that need replacing in your bathroom, too. Nyree adds: "Although dental floss doesn't expire, it may lose its minty fresh taste if not used within a year or so.

"In contrast, toothpaste does expire, and this usually happens two years after manufacture. While it's still technically safe to use expired toothpaste, it will be less effective, so it's not recommended."

Bin any old eye drops:

Farah Topia, clinical adviser at the Association of Optometrists, says reading the label is vital to ensure you're using eye drops properly. "The duration in which they can be safely used after opening is typically shown on the packaging.

Squeezing a few drops out of an old bottle comes with a risk, as Farah explains: "Using expired or opened drops can lead to reduced effectiveness in treating eye conditions and an increased risk of infections due to bacterial contamination.