One of the most important aspects of good oral hygiene is brushing your teeth twice daily. However, If you are brushing with an old toothbrush, you may need a new one. Swapping out your old one can be an essential aspect of caring for your oral health. Below, we will discuss why.

What Happens With Old Toothbrushes?

Over time, your toothbrush becomes less effective at brushing your teeth. This is because the soft bristles tend to fray or get damaged with use. Frayed or damaged bristles are less effective at brushing and may irritate gums. Furthermore, fraying bristles can be less effective at cleaning between teeth.
Additionally, bacterial growth can accumulate on the brush. Bacteria from your mouth and bathroom can go onto the toothbrush. Because of this, it is important to rinse it out before and after use. However, rinsing alone is not enough to remove all of this growth. With these two issues, dentists recommend regularly getting a new toothbrush.

How Often Should You Replace Your Toothbrush?

In order to combat bacterial growth and bristle damage, most dentists recommend getting a new toothbrush every three to four months. This helps make sure your bristles are still efficient, and there is minimal bacterial growth.

When Should I Replace My Electric Toothbrush Head?

Electric toothbrushes with replaceable toothbrush heads are a good way to brush your teeth, and still replace the bristles regularly. Generally speaking, the manufacturer will provide an estimate of how often to replace your toothbrush heads. Some may even recommend every two weeks, which is quite frequent. In general, you can swap them out every 3 months.

How Often Should I Swap Out My Travel Toothbrush?

Travel toothbrushes are helpful for keeping your essentials ready for any trip; whether for business or pleasure. However, they can also suffer from bacterial accumulation, even if you aren’t using them daily. As such, you should replace your travel toothbrush 6 months after first use.

A Center for Dental Excellence does not provide medical or healthcare advice via articles. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for medical advice.
A Center for Dental Excellence provides expert dental care to the Brooklyn and Staten Island communities we serve. To schedule an appointment or consultation, contact us or call the office you would like to visit. (718) 232-8289 for Brooklyn, and (718) 980-9555 for Staten Island.