It is pretty common to forget that we need to change our toothbrush once in a while. Like, it is been about three or six months, so where is the harm? Well, you are a bit wrong there! Changing that trusty tool can prove very beneficial to your mouth!
We shall state here some of the reasons why it is essential for you to swap that old toothbrush. Failing to do so can even be fatal to your overall health.
Why swapping your toothbrush is important
So before getting onto the deeper things, let’s address the main issues from the top. Changing our toothbrush is important in order to avoid all of these:
- Worn bristles that do not do an effective job at scrubbing off the plaque at most places.
- All the bacteria that get in touch with your bristles and start developing.
- Avoiding getting germs over other people’s toothbrushes.
- Bacteria and germs going into your blood stream if there’s a cut or wound in your mouth.
So to avoid all of these, Los Algodones dentists suggest swapping that trusty tool once every three months!
So now that we have briefly mentioned them, we will now explain them for you.
What does it mean if the bristles are frayed or worn out?
This is one of the most important reasons why you should change that toothbrush. If you see those bristles pointing in different directions, then they will not be doing a good job at all brushing your pearly whites. In short words, they are doing an awful job brushing!
You might consider not brushing too hard if they are getting frayed way sooner than the three months peak. Also, while you are at that, if you haven’t already picked one with soft bristles, then do so. It will go easier on your tooth enamel as you are aseeking to remove food particles and the soft plaque.
The bacteria living in your toothbrush if not cleaned properly
As you know, there are millions of bacteria inside our mouths, so it is impossible for our toothbrush to not be exposed to that. This is why we rinse it with water before and after we use it. And here is an important part: we must keep the head dry and in an uptight position. This way the bacteria won’t have much room for growth and causing havoc.
There are actually toothbrush sanitizers available, so you might be interested in those if you seek a deep cleaning of your tooth cleaning tool!
As an addition, we recommend that you change your toothbrush in case you have a wound or cut. It would be bad if previous bacteria make way into your blood stream through that same wound. According to several studies, changing your toothbrush also decreases your chance of a heart stroke.
It is a more hygienic approach, when considering others
If you share the bathroom with other people, chances are that all the toothbrushes are in the same place. That means that if someone suffers from the flu or a cold, after brushing and leaving their toothbrush there, it will most likely be in contact with yours.
For that reason, Los Algodones dentists recommend separating your toothbrushes a bit, while also remembering to keep them clean, dry and in an uptight position.
So, in conclusion!
- You must change your toothbrush every three months. Even sooner if you notice the bristles worn out.
- Make sure to wash and rinse your toothbrush before and after use.
- Keep it in a dry environment and pointing up. Don’t give those bacteria a chance to reproduce!
- Be careful of using a very old toothbrush when there are wounds inside your mouth.
Hopefully you are one step closer to a bright, healthy smile!