How Often Should You Change Your Toothbrush?
Most of us know our toothbrushes aren’t meant to last forever. But it can be hard to figure out when our bristles are nearing the end of their life.
You may or may not be surprised to find out that according to manufacturer guidelines and dentist recommendations, your toothbrush should be replaced every 12 to 16 weeks.
The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) also advise you to replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months Resource, or whenever it appears to be getting worn out.
Most dental professionals agree you should change your toothbrush every three months because germs can hide in toothbrush bristles that can lead to reinfection.
Even if you haven’t been sick, fungus and bacteria can develop in the bristles of your toothbrush —another reason to change your toothbrush regularly.
For more information see other blogs Storing and sanitizing your toothbrush.
Once the bristles in your toothbrush start to wear, they lose their stiffness and effectiveness to remove food, plaque, and bacteria from your teeth. When the bristles look frayed is when the toothbrush is ready for the trash.
There are also some reasons you might need to replace your toothbrush sooner. If you don’t replace a toothbrush or electronic toothbrush head when it needs to be, it is less effective, and it can affect your dental health and spread infection.
Your toothbrush is your first line of defense against the bacteria that cause bad breath, gingivitis, cavities and gum disease.
Straight bristles and a clean and easy-to-grip handle are best to navigate the smaller spaces in your mouth. I am a BURST ambassador I like the tapered bristled that brush offers. A soft bristle brush will effectively remove old food and bacteria that can collect around the gums of your teeth and tongue.
If you follow the standard recommendation of brushing your teeth for which is 2 minutes 2 times a day, you’re already taking steps to protect your teeth from cavities.
Every time you use your toothbrush, the nylon bristles are exposed chemicals from your toothpaste that make the bristles a little weaker with each use.
If you are into research a 2013 study Resource showed that after 40 days of consistent use, bristle flaring starts to make your toothbrush less effective. Study participants who didn’t replace their toothbrushes on the 40th day of use experienced considerably more plaque buildup.
Two earlier studies toothbrush heads that are worn confirmed that older toothbrushes are much less efficient at removing plaque, which can lead to cavities and gum disease.
Other reasons to replace your toothbrush.
Besides wear, there are other reasons to change your brush.
If you have been sick viruses can hang out on your toothbrush even after you have recovered from cold and flu. They can survive in an infective state anywhere from a few hours to a few days your antibodies should keep you from contracting the same illness twice but better to be safe than sorry disinfect your toothbrush or throw it away.
Toothbrush bristles do not kill bacteria in the mouth, protect you against disease or prevent you from getting sick.
Toothbrushes should be stored upright in an environment that allows for them to dry out completely between uses.
Have you ever done your business, not closed the lid and flushed the toilet, then stopped to ponder the short distance between the whirlpool of human feces and your vulnerable toothbrush sitting uncovered on the counter?
Or are you an advocate for storing your toothbrush inside your medicine cabinet for this very reason?
Either way, there are some interesting and potentially unsettling facts to know about different ways to store your toothbrush.
To make the most out of your toothbrush, take care of it the way you would any other personal hygiene tool.
Don’t share your toothbrush with someone else, even members of your immediate family. If your toothbrush is stored in a cup or container with other toothbrushes, try not to let the heads touch each other.
After brushing, rinse your toothbrush completely with tap water let it dry. Like most things in life, there is conflicting information on sanitizing your toothbrush the use of a disinfectant, mouthwash, or hot water to sanitize it. “sanitizing” a toothbrush is a personal choice. Use your best judgment. Making sure it dry’s is key.
I do not recommend a closed container to keep your toothbrush clean when it’s not in use. Some of these containers can encourage mold growth or spread bacteria.
Takeaways
Your toothbrush is an important oral hygiene tool. To maintain your toothbrush and make the most of its lifespan, use only your own toothbrush, don’t share and store it upright away from the toilet and let it air dry.
Plan to replace the toothbrushes of every person in your family every 3 to 4 months. Mark your calendar on the date you bring a new one out or get on a subscription, so you remember when it’s time to replace them again.
Resources
• Brushing your teeth. (n.d.).
mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/b/brushing-your-teeth
• Conforti NJ, et al. (2003). An investigation into the effect of three months’ clinical wear on toothbrush efficacy: Results from two independent studies.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12723100
• Tangade PS, et al. (2013). Is plaque removal efficacy of toothbrush related to bristle flaring? A 3-month prospective parallel experimental study.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3847535/
• Use and handling of toothbrushes. (2016).
cdc.gov/oralhealth/infectioncontrol/faqs/toothbrush-handling.html
• How long does a toothbrush last and why should I replace it?
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-often-should-you-change-your-toothbrush
more information on a Burst toothbrush www.burtsoralcare.com use Promo code 5ZMZBR
