14 Toothbrushes

That is the number of extra toothbrushes (used, not new) that I threw away this week. How can a family of 8 have so many extra toothbrushes? The kids are each supposed to have 2 toothbrushes, one for regular use and a spare. For some peculiar reason, they are very reluctant to part with any old toothbrush, so any time they get a new one, and I say, "Throw out one of your old ones", they apparently don't. Then they promptly forget which brushes are theirs and so when they lose their regular toothbrush or leave at someone's house, and I say, "Use your spare," I am always told that they don't HAVE a spare, only the one, and now I need to buy them a new toothbrush. So now we are down to one toothbrush each, not counting a couple of electric ones they got as gifts. Everyone went to the dentist last week and got a new one, so they are all fresh.