Why your need to replace your toothbrush so often

While you may be good at brushing your teeth twice daily and flossing every night, do you have the fundamentals sorted with a good quality toothbrush? It’s easy to forget that toothbrushes have a lifespan too and should be replaced regularly. But how often you should you change your toothbrush and why bother? That’s exactly what we’ve be uncovering in today’s blog…

The three month rule

If you’re one of the many people that only replace their toothbrush once or twice a year take note: your toothbrush, or toothbrush head, should be replaced every three to four months. Researchers have found that a single toothbrush can be loaded with 10 million germs and bacteria, which continue to grow day-on-day. 

What happens to your toothbrush over time?

How often you change your brush can also be affected by your brushing technique. If you’re quite firm with your brush the bristles might wear out sooner. While the three to four month rule is a good guideline, your toothbrush should be replaced sooner if the quality and shape of the bristles degrade. Frayed and worn out bristles mean a toothbrush looses its effectiveness in getting to all those tricky corners around your teeth. In turn, this means ineffective cleaning of your teeth.

You may also want to change your toothbrush after an illness to ensure you can continue your dental care regime bacteria free. Viruses can live for weeks on a toothbrush surface and continue to cause illness – so a fresh toothbrush is always best.

We recommend marking up your calendar as a reminder to change your brush quarterly – it can be so easy to forget. By setting a reminder you can be sure that you’re looking after your teeth and maintaining optimal dental care.

Looking after your toothbrush

Looking after your toothbrush will ensure it remains in optimum condition for the duration of its use. To ensure your pearly whites stay in tip-top condition, along with your health, follow these toothbrush dental care tips:

• Once you’ve used your toothbrush rinse it thoroughly under tap water and let it air dry. A lack of air, for example, in a medicine cupboard, can result in bacteria build up on your toothbrush.
• Toothbrushes are best stored upright. This allows them to air dry properly.
• If you’re conscious of germs you can give your toothbrush an extra intensive clean by popping your toothbrush in a small pot of mouthwash, which works as an antiseptic.
• While a dishwasher might seem a modern-day gem for our dishes, it doesn’t do your toothbrush any favours. Stick to the methods above to clean your brush and don’t be tempted to pop it in the dishwasher!

For more tips and dental care advice browse our blog or book in for a routine dental appointment. You can make your appointment by giving us a call on 01254 297000.

How often do you change your toothbrush? Tell us in the comments below or tweet us @APSmilecare