How Often Should I Replace My Toothbrush?
You should change your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Learn more about the ADA recommendations for changing your toothbrush and how this affects your dental health.
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You should change your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Learn more about the ADA recommendations for changing your toothbrush and how this affects your dental health.
The American Dental Association (ADA) provide a lot of helpful information on dental care. Brushing ones teeth twice a day for two minutes a day is a common directive that many people follow. But do you remember the last time your toothbrush was replaced? People are generally good about ridding their lives of expired foods, supplements, vitamins, and beauty products. One aspect that sometimes gets neglected when it comes to our oral hygiene is changing our toothbrush.
The ADA recommend changing your toothbrush about every 3-4 months. Overtime, as your toothbrush goes through normal wear and tear, they tend to become less effective as the bristles break down. As the bristles break down they are not able to remove as much plaque from your teeth and gums. Studies have shown that at around three months the bristles break down and lose effectiveness.
Another factor to consider is the fact that your toothbrush harbors bacteria (even bacteria from air particles the spread when a toilet is flushed). It is important to not only change your toothbrush every 3-4 months but also to thoroughly clean (and dry) your toothbrush and store in the upright position keeping it away from other toothbrushes.
During your next dental visit request suggestions for your specific dental needs. A few common suggestions among dental professionals are to look for toothbrushes with softer bristles, as hard bristles may damage your teeth and gums, use a toothpaste containing fluoride approved by the ADA, consider using mouthwash to further fight plaque and gingivitis, and don’t forget floss. The electric toothbrush technology is continually improving and providing many benefits to its user. In many cases they have proven to assist people beyond what their manual toothbrush can do.
At Swish Dental we are always here to promote you and your smile. From General Dentistry, Family Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentistry, to Invisalign and Sleep Apnea Treatment, making you smile is what makes us smile. We’d love to walk with you on your dental journey today!
