Dangers of some toothbrushes as toys
Toothbrushes as toys-Warning!
I was discussing with some of my birdie friends about the possible dangers of using toothbrushes as toys. So I thought I would do an experiment myself.
Some toothbrushes have metal chips that hold the bristles in. Some companies use SS chips, some aluminum, some no chips at all.
So I gathered some of my old toothbrushes made by different companies and even bought a few new ones.
I then used rose bush pruners to cut the head of the toothbrush in half. If there were metal chips I removed them and used a magnet to tell me whether they were metal, SS or Aluminum. Below is the list and my findings with pictures. I was thinking that even the chips that are not metal still can cause internal damage if ingested by our birds.
The chips are so very tiny and very sharp. The picture on my finger is my pinky finger. The screwdriver was used to prove that the chip was metal as the screw driver is magnetic.
Toothbrush:
1)Oral B gel head w/side rubber bristles-no metal chips found
2)Oral B full bristle head-metal chips-magnetic*
3)GUM-full bristle head-metal chips-magnetic*
4)Colgate360-no metal chips found
5)Aquafresh Gel head-no metal chips found
6)Reach full bristle head-metal chips found-magnetic**
The reach and Oral B had many metal chips.
**
I do not know if toothbrushes sold as bird toys are free of metal chips.