How Often Should You Change Your Toothbrush?

We all know that toothbrushes are not supposed to last forever, but it can be challenging to determine when our bristles are nearing their lifespan. You might sometimes be surprised to find out that the lifespan of your toothbrush is 12 to 16 weeks according to your dentist in Thornton recommendations or the manufactures guidelines.

There are also some unique cases, for example, when you have tooth decay where you might have to replace your tooth sooner. But, according to the recommendations, if you don’t replace your toothbrush, it can affect your oral health negatively and spread infection.

Choosing the Right Toothbrush

Your toothbrush serves as your first defense against bacteria that may cause tooth decay, gum disease, or bad breath. The best toothbrush should have straight and soft bristles and an easy-grip handle to help you navigate smaller spaces in your oral cavity. This will help you remove food remains and bacteria that may collect around the bases of your teeth.

Following the standard recommendation of brushing your teeth for two minutes twice per day is a step forward in protecting your teeth from cavities. In addition, brushing your teeth after every meal is a proactive step in preventing tooth decay. Brushing your teeth twice or more than two times a day is still considered standard, but the bristles will weaken or fall out within three months.

The center for Disease Prevention and Control advises everyone to replace their toothbrush every 3-4 months, or when the bristles weaken or wear out. Once the bristles loosen or weaken, it’s time to trash it because if the bristles weaken, it will not remove the food debris or bacteria.

Why Should You Change Your Toothbrush Often?

You might not know the reasons as to why you need to replace your toothbrush, but your family dentist at Thornton will explain to you how you can. The following are the factors that necessitate the replacement of your toothbrush:

• Reduce the risk of bacterial infection

Everyone has healthy oral bacteria that live in our mouth and helps with food digestion, but this can damage our gums if not removed regularly through brushing or flossing. Unfortunately, the bacteria can remain on the bristles of your toothbrush, where they can multiply. To prevent the bacteria from spreading, ensure that you rinse your toothbrush thoroughly after use and replace it after every three months, whether it is worn out or not.

• Worn-out toothbrushes are not as effective

After using your toothbrushes, the bristles wear out and weaken, which will not effectively remove the food remains or bacteria or plaque buildup between your teeth. Exchanging toothbrushes every three months is important because when the toothbrush is brand new, it will effectively remove the bacteria.

• Worn out bristles can damage your gum tissue and tooth enamel

A worn-out toothbrush may be harmful. You may not notice this, but the tips of the bristles are meant to glide over the surface of your teeth without causing any unnecessary wear or damage. But when it’s worn out, the bristles can be more abrasive and thus may increase the risk of it damaging your soft gum tissue and causing excess enamel erosion.

• Prevent exposure to fungus, microorganisms, and mold.

Older toothbrushes also contain large amounts of mold, microorganisms, and fungus, which can negatively impact your oral health. These foreign organisms can also affect your overall health. So, to prevent these microorganisms from affecting your oral health, store them upright or standing, with the bristles up. Do not store it in your travel case or the shower. The high moisture in these places makes it easy for the microorganisms to thrive.

• Prevent re-infection after you’ve been sick

Some viruses and bacteria such as flu, strep throat, and cold can live on your toothbrush. So if you get sick, remember to replace your toothbrush. Using the same toothbrush after getting sick increases the risk of re-infection. Your doctor or dentist near you will advise you to replace your toothbrush to prevent any infection present in your toothbrush from causing another infection occurrence.

If you need any guidelines concerning cleaning your toothbrush and introducing it to your kids, then visit our dentist’s office near you. Our staff at Fox Creek Dental by Espire in Thornton are committed and ready to offer their dental expertise when needed.