The toothbrush has been around for thousands of years, and it’s an integral part of your daily routine. Without it, your oral hygiene will suffer, and you don’t need to be a dentist to know that’s the truth!
As an essential tool, it’s only right that you treat it with respect it deserves. That means changing it regularly to ensure it does an excellent job of keeping your teeth and gums clean.
But, when are you supposed to throw it in the garbage and invest in a new one? How long should you leave it before it’s too late? Continue reading to find out.
The ADA
The American Dental Association recommends changing your toothbrush every three to four months. Any longer and you run the risk of a build-up of bacteria and the brush becoming ineffective.
However, this is a general recommendation and doesn’t apply to every toothbrush.
Manual Versus Electric
Manual and electric brushes have their pros and cons, and you should choose one that suits your needs the best. To help you understand when it’s time to change your toothbrush regardless of the type, here are the signs to look out for with both.
Manual
Firmness: The firmness of the bristles is essential for manual brushes because people often make a common mistake. While hard bristles have their advantages, they can remove the enamel from your teeth if they are tough, leaving your teeth exposed. Therefore, they should be soft with a little give. However, they shouldn’t be soft to the point they are frayed or coming loose.
Head shape: Lots of manual brushes have rectangular heads, but circular ones age better. Why? It’s because the round and diamond-shaped ones can reach the areas that rectangular heads can’t. So, they are more useful for longer.
Electric
Power charge: Both bristle firmness and head shape apply to electric toothbrushes, but the main factor to consider is how effectively it keeps its charge. Electric brushes that regularly cut out negate the point of buying one in the first place. If you need to put it on charge or keep it plugged in, you should opt for a new one.
Other Factors
Illness and disease are two considerations that should always be in the back of your mind. The reason is simple: toothbrushes don’t fight against infections or sickness. So, if you’ve suffered from an ailment recently, there’s a chance it will linger on your brush. The next time you use it, you could feel ill and have to go through the process again.
As well as illness, you might want to change your brush:
- If you had a sore throat
- If you had a mouth sore such as a canker sore
How To Maintain Your Brush For Longer
- Use a bristle guard: A guard stops bacteria from forming while preventing the bristles from fraying.
- Rinse it: And do it thoroughly to remove all the excess bacteria from your mouth and the toothpaste.
- Don’t share it: Sharing a toothbrush might not be too disgusting for partners, but it’s unhygienic.
Please contact us with any other questions regarding your toothbrush.
