We practice oral hygiene regularly to keep our mouths fresh, clean, and healthy. To ensure plaque does not linger and harm our teeth, we need to use the right tools to brush and floss. When you run out of toothpaste or floss, you buy new products to replace them.
But did you know you also need to buy a new toothbrush to replace your old one every few months? Make sure you get the most effective clean during at-home dental care by using the highest quality of products, including toothbrushes, each time you do it. Read on to learn more details about the importance of replacing your toothbrush every so often.
What Happens to Your Toothbrush Over Time?
A good toothbrush features firm bristles attached to an easy-to-maneuver handle that will scrub away plaque, bacteria, and lingering food particles that cling to your teeth. However, as you continue to use your toothbrush, the bristles will start to wear down and fray.
Then they cannot brush as effectively as they once did. This will allow harmful residues to remain on your teeth where they can eat away at your dental structure. This in turn puts you in greater danger of forming many kinds of dental problems.
Your toothbrush will also gather germs from both your mouth and the surroundings where you store it. Though you rinse your brush before and after completing your oral hygiene routine, it will still collect these pollutants.
So you will need to get rid of the germy brush after a while to ensure you do not get sick. Do not cover the head of your toothbrush when you store it because this can breed bacteria and mold, worsening the problem.
When Do I Need to Replace My Toothbrush?
The average dental patient will need to replace a traditional manual toothbrush every three to four months. This is when the bristles of these brushes begin to fray, and you can no longer rely on them to get your smile as clean as it needs to be. Electric toothbrush heads have shorter bristles. So you will need to replace them more frequently, usually every 12 weeks or so.
If you see bristles beginning to fray before this time, you should replace your toothbrush sooner. Another time you should buy a new toothbrush is if you or another member of your household gets sick. You should replace all toothbrushes in the house to stop the spread of disease.
What If I Continue Using an Old Toothbrush?
Maybe you forgot it is time to replace your toothbrush. Or perhaps you do not think using an old toothbrush is a big deal. Continuing the use of a worn toothbrush can mean you have harmful residues on your smile.
Over time, they can cause irreversible damage to your tooth enamel, putting you in danger of cavities, gum disease, and other dental concerns. Using appropriate equipment during your oral hygiene routine ensures you can best fight against these issues.