It might seem odd for a dentist to tell you to toss your toothbrush, but there are a couple of important considerations that might mean it’s time to crack open a new brush.
Consideration #1: The experts recommend you change your toothbrush or toothbrush head every 3-4 months
January is a good time to toss your old toothbrush. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you get a new toothbrush, or a new toothbrush head if you are using an electric toothbrush, every three to four months.1
If you use your toothbrush more than twice per day, you need to change it more often. It would be logical to assume that the recommendation from the ADA is based on two brushings per day for 90 to 120 days, so you can figure you would need to change your brush after using it 180 to 240 times.
It’s easier to remember to change your brush every quarter of the year, so starting with a new brush in January, the beginning of the first quarter of the year, makes sense. If changing your brush on the quarter year is hard to remember, you can also use the four seasons to change your toothbrush or brush head.
There are now services available from manufacturers, like Oral-B Refill Subscription2 and Quip3, that will send you a new brush automatically, so you don’t even need to keep track of when to change your brush. These subscription services can also save you money over one-time ordering.
Consideration #2: Bacteria growth is a good reason to change your toothbrush or brush head regularly.
It is scary to note that research reveals that your toothbrush can hold 100 million bacteria including E. coli and staphylococci (Staph) bacteria with fecal germs present if the toothbrush is stored out in the open in the bathroom.4 Your immune system can generally keep you from getting sick from the bacteria in your mouth, but changing your toothbrush regularly and cleaning and storing it properly goes a long way in maintaining good oral health and good overall health.
Research has found that the amount of bacteria is decreased when you rinse your toothbrush in hot water after use and store it in a sunny area that is not in the bathroom.5 If you must store your toothbrush in the bathroom, keep it in a closet or medicine cabinet and keep the toilet seat down when flushing the toilet to minimize the amount of airborne bacteria.
Consideration #3: Using an old toothbrush doesn’t clean your teeth as well and can actually damage your teeth and gums.
Over time the bristles on your toothbrush become frayed. The bristles of a worn toothbrush become uneven and splayed out. Some manufacturers will put die on the toothbrush bristles and when the die changes color it is time to get a new toothbrush. If the bristles on your toothbrush aren’t in good shape, they aren’t doing the job that they should in cleaning your teeth.
Clinical research has shown this to be a fact — new toothbrushes remove more plaque than worn toothbrushes.6 If you are not removing all the plaque from your teeth you risk having the plaque turn into tartar, leading to cavities, gingivitis (gum disease) and tooth loss.
Consideration #4: A toothbrush should always be replaced after any illness, especially flu and COVID.
To decrease the change of re-infecting yourself it is very important to change your toothbrush or toothbrush head after being ill with a cold, flu, COVID or other infectious diseases. You should also replace your toothbrush if you store your toothbrush next to that of a family member that has been ill. The spacing on most toothbrush holders puts your toothbrush in too close a proximity to a toothbrush that might be harboring bacteria from a family member’s recent illness.
Changing your toothbrush on a regular basis costs a lot less than the cost and inconvenience of dental procedures, like filling a cavity, which can be avoided through proper oral hygiene.
Dental Care for Life
The dental professionals at our Walled Lake Dental Office are always available for questions, advice, and dental tips. Our goal is to help you keep your smile for life while maintaining good oral health. Dr, Hechtman has more than 40 years of experience in general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, dental treatments, orthodontics and more!
Keep you and your family in check by scheduling a dental checkup where all your questions and dental concerns will and can be addressed at our full-service dental clinic. Longing to restore your smile? Experiencing dental discomfort? Are your gums receding? Whatever it is, we’ve got you covered so call for a Free Consultation today!
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1 8 Bad Brushing Habits to Break in 2022
Link: https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/brushing-mistakes-slideshow/
2 Replacement Brush Heads
Link: https://oralb.com/en-us/products/replacement-brush-heads/
3 Get the Best Value on All Your Refills
Link: https://www.getquip.com/refills
4 The Ugly Truth About Your Toothbrush, reviewed by Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD on 3/31/2021
Link: https://www.onhealth.com/content/1/toothbrush_germs_facts#: