Good oral hygiene involves flossing every day and brushing your teeth at least twice per day. To complete this cleaning process properly, you need to have the right tools on hand. When you run low on toothpaste or floss, you must buy replacements. But did you know that you need to replace your toothbrush too?
Your toothbrush will lose its ability to scrub your teeth clean effectively over time. So you need to buy a new toothbrush every so often to keep your smile healthy and clean. Read on to learn more details about the importance of using good oral hygiene supplies, including a new toothbrush.
What Happens to Your Toothbrush Over Time?
A good toothbrush has firm bristles attached to a plastic handle that you can use to scrub plaque, surface stains, and other residues from your teeth. These durable bristles will eventually fray and wear down as time passes, which will make the brush less able to clean your teeth the way you need.
Your toothbrush will also collect germs and bacteria over time from both your own mouth and the brush’s surroundings. You may rinse your toothbrush before and after using it during your oral hygiene routine. But exposure still leaves the brush vulnerable and it will deteriorate over the course of a few weeks.
Do not store the toothbrush in a closed container as this will encourage mold and bacteria breeding, worsening the problem. Instead, you will need to buy a new toothbrush every few months.
How Often Should I Replace My Toothbrush?
The average dental patient should purchase a new manual or traditional toothbrush every three to four months. After this time, the bristles of a toothbrush fray and will not scrub and clean your teeth as well as they should.
If you see that the bristles start to wear down before this point, you should replace the toothbrush sooner. Electric toothbrushes feature shorter bristles than manual ones and will require more frequent replacements of its head. Dentists suggest replacing these about every 12 weeks.
Some circumstances might occur that require you to replace your toothbrush outside of this usual wear and tear reason. If you or someone you live with has a contagious illness, you should dispose of the toothbrushes in your home to reduce the chance of spreading the disease. You should also throw out a toothbrush that you know someone else has borrowed or used.
What If I Continue to Use an Old Toothbrush?
Perhaps you forgot to replace your toothbrush in the recommended amount of time or did not think it was a big deal. How would using an old toothbrush affect your oral health?
If you do not replace a worn toothbrush, you might leave plaque and bacteria lingering on your teeth. They can eat away at your dental structure, increasing your risk of cavities and other dental dangers. While a dentist can treat certain dental problems, you should protect your oral health as much as you can with proper oral hygiene.