Changing your toothbrush is one of the most important parts of your dental health routine! Using an old toothbrush can really affect the quality of your smile. An old toothbrush can be hurtful to your gums and there’s a chance it’s not performing its job of cleaning your teeth. It’s important to change your toothbrush or toothbrush head every three months. We pulled together some benefits of changing your toothbrush.
Reasons To Change Your Toothbrush
- The reason you brush your teeth is to remove the bacteria and plaque build-up on the teeth’s surface. If you wait too long to change your toothbrush then this can become counterproductive. Think of this as similar to a sponge. When you use a sponge for a while the dirt from previous cleanings will be built up, making more of a mess when you use it rather than it doing its job. The longer you keep a toothbrush the more bacteria will be on it.
- I’m sure we’ve all seen a toothbrush that has frayed bristles. This is a common sign of an overused toothbrush. Frayed bristles can be hard on your gums and can lead to premature gum recession. Toothbrush bristles begin to fray around 3 months of use.
- Remember to change your toothbrush when you overcome a common cold or virus. Toothbrushes hold bacteria that you can potentially reinfect yourself with. You can also get those in your house sick.
Best Toothbrush Practices
Rinsing your toothbrush and letting it air dry is the best way to keep your toothbrush clean. Storing your toothbrush in a small and poorly ventilated area will encourage the bacteria on the brush to grow quicker. Bacteria is known to be transferred from one brush to another, so if you and your family store your toothbrush in a small space, like a cup, avoid letting the bristles touch one another!
Let Your Dentist Handle It
Be sure to follow this best practice to obtain the healthiest dental health routine. Your dentist normally provides you with a toothbrush after every visit, and if you are making your regular 6-month appointments you only have to buy two a year! Greeley Dental Health is currently accepting new patients.