When Is It Necessary To Replace A Toothbrush?

When we go to buy brushes from the store, we tend to pick brushes that are beautiful or brushes that have our favorite colors. This is one of the reasons why it is hard to change our toothbrushes.

While we know deep down in ourselves that using a brush for too long is not the right thing to do, we sometimes get too comfortable using a toothbrush that it gets pretty hard to get rid of that brush. For some other people, they just do not know when to change their brush. They try to calculate how long they have been using the brush and convince themselves that they can still go another month with the brush. However, we must remember that the primary purpose of using a brush is to brush the mouth and the bristles on the brush have a lifespan. When this lifespan elapses, brushing with that brush becomes an ineffective activity.

Ideally, you should change your brush every 3 to months according to the recommendation of dentists and brush manufacturers. This is the longest period which you should use a brush. There are other times when you need to change the brush before the 3 months. For example, if you have an infection of a tooth, your brush can play a vital role in spreading the infection from one tooth to other teeth in your mouth. When you treat the infection, your dentist will advise you about replacing your toothbrush so that the infection does not return.

When Should You Change Your Brush?

Of all the ways that you can prevent bacteria from staying and multiplying in the mouth, a brush is the most used method. A brush can help you prevent bad breath and give you the confidence to speak to anyone. It can also help you prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Toothbrushes are the easiest dental care for everyone.

The bristles in your brush will enter into the tiny holes between your teeth and remove all the food particles that might want to develop into bacteria. It will also help to remove any bacteria that have begun to develop in the base of the teeth. Dentists recommend that you brush your teeth at least twice daily, in the morning and at night preferably. These two times, you should spend at least 2 minutes brushing your teeth.

To further protect your teeth from the risk of bacteria, you can brush between two meals. You can also brush after taking sugary things that might stick in your teeth. Brushing twice every day will weaken your brush in three months and that is why it is recommended that you change your brush after that period.

Another sign that you need to change your brush is when you notice that the bristles on the brush have begun to fall. Not when they fall off but when they can no longer stand erect and they are bent. At this point, the bristles will find it hard to navigate into the teeth and remove food particles and bacteria.

If you use an electric toothbrush head, you can rotate or vibrate the brush to clean the head. The bristles are made of nylon so they easily lose efficiency. Moreover, the bristles are short so they get weak in a short time. You should also change the head of your electronic brush every 3 months if you are intentional about your dental care. Sometimes, the head might be due for a change before three months, check it regularly to know if it is due for a change.

If a member of your family fell ill recently, you should change the brush of that person as well as every other person in the house. Children tend to chew the bristles on a brush while brushing their teeth. If you notice that your children have chewed the bristles on their toothbrushes, you should change the brush at once so that brushing can be effective for them. Teach your children the right way to brush and make sure that the toothbrush is not exposed to anything else than toothpaste and teeth.

Do not share your brush with another person, it is wrong. If you keep your brush in the same place as other people, make sure that the bristles are not touching each other. Rinse and keep your brush after brushing. Do not try to sanitize it else you expose it to more germs while doing that.