Violight VIO200 Travel Toothbrush Sanitizer

The VIO200 is a handy, travel-friendly way to kill bacteria on your toothbrush. View larger.

Violight puts the "clean" back in oral hygiene.

There's nothing worse than getting sick while traveling, but it can happen to anyone. Some people are exposed to germs in an obvious manner, such as sitting next to someone who is coughing and sneezing on the plane. But did you know that you can also be harmed by germs if you lay your toothbrush down on the counter in your hotel room? Whether you're staying in a cheap road-side motel or a five-star beach resort, hotel rooms are filled with germs. Even when a bathroom looks clean it may still suffer from microbial contamination.

And here's something to think about: if you plan on staying at a friend or family member's house instead of a hotel during your trip, the germ count in the bathroom will probably be even higher. Even if the people you're staying with are "clean freaks," bathrooms are such a breeding ground for germs that it is near impossible for them to be bacteria-free. According to independent studies, Violight is able to kill 99.9-percent of the bacteria living on your toothbrush (including the influenza virus, streptococcus and staphylococcus) with its germicidal UV light . So no matter where you stay while you're traveling, you can rest assured the VIO200 will help keep your toothbrush clean and your immune system in tip-top working order. Plus, it's ultra-safe to use -- you don't have to mess with dangerous hot steam or boiling water.

The real benefit of the Violight, though, is that it provides peace of mind and good protection from all kinds of nastiness that might be lurking on your trusty bristles. Although toothbrushes don't feel any different after being sanitized by the Violight, it's nice to know that your brushes are clean and germ free. After finding out that the Centers for Disease Control has even stated that toothbrushes can be a significant source of "potentially pathogenic organisms," you'll be glad that the Violight is around. So if you're looking for the ultimate in brushing safety, you'll rest easy knowing that this handy sanitizer puts the "clean" back in oral hygiene.

There are few other things you can do to protect yourself from harmful germs. Travel experts advise you to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after you touch items that are prone to bacteria. You can also wipe down door knobs, lamp switches, telephones, and countertops with antibacterial swabs. And when it comes to the bathroom, whatever you do, keep your toothbrush off that counter. As Violight Travel Toothbrush Sanitizer inventor Joel Pinksys says, "You wouldn't put a dirty fork or spoon that has been sitting on the counter overnight into your mouth without sanitizing it would you? The same should go for your toothbrush."

So take it from Joel, get yourself a travel sanitizer. This device, which holds a single toothbrush and is powered by two AA batteries, serves as both a sanitizer and a safe, clean place to store your toothbrush while you're traveling. After you brush and rinse, simply put the brush in the case, push the button, and seven minutes later the device will shuts off automatically, and your toothbrush will be sanitized. The process couldn't be easier, and the results are well worth the effort.