Have you ever wondered why many dental adverts recommend that you change your toothbrush every three months?
Here are some reasons why you should change your toothbrush:
- After around three months of usage, the toothbrush comes to the end of its life and gets to a point where it is no longer as effective for cleaning around the tooth surfaces and this also includes brush heads on electric toothbrushes.
- Research shows that a new toothbrush can remove more plaque than one that is worn out.
- As the bristles become worn they become more prone to bacterial or fungal growth.
- Using a toothbrush more than three months might give you dental problems, halitosis or bad breath.
- Worn out bristles can cause gum bleeding.
Like everything, toothbrushes have a life expectancy, so it might be a good idea to make a note of when you purchased your last toothbrush or toothbrush head and mark it in your diary or calendar so that you know when to purchase a new one. You can also buy in bulk, so you only need to make sure you change your brush every 3 months. Sometimes you might find that you have to change your brush before the 3-month period is over, so it’s always a good idea to keep spare brushes. If your toothbrush becomes worn, uneven or split or toothpaste gets clogged up in the bristles this can harm your gums so make sure you change the brush.
Dentists also advise to change your toothbrush after you had an infection such as flu, cold, mouth sores or sore throat. If you get sick make sure that change your brush even if it’s not 3 months old yet, as bacteria can breed on those bristles.
How often do you change your toothbrush? Why not share your thoughts with other patients on our Facebook page?
Visit our Norwich dentists to learn more or even book in to see one of our Norwich dental hygienists.
