Ever wonder how often you need to change your toothbrush head? Some people think it is every six months when they go in for a dental check-up. Wrong! The American Dental Association actually recommends you change your toothbrush or toothbrush head every 3 months. While every 3 months may be recommended, you may even need to change it out sooner if you happen to contract the flu, a cold, sore throat or even a mouth sore.
Now you may be thinking in the back of your mind that 3 months is way too often. Let us take a deeper look into why this is so important.
There are 1.2 billion bacteria particles within your toothbrush bristles. While most of these aren’t harmful, it’s still pretty overwhelming. While there is a slim chance of being re-infected with a cold or flu, the bacteria that remain can actually turn into ANOTHER virus causing you to become ill.
When a toothbrush is too old, the bristles become frayed and less effective. This means you are actually leaving plaque on your teeth, defeating the whole purpose of brushing in the first place.
The plaque you are not able to remove with an old toothbrush causes you to build up tartar. This can damage your gums and bone and result in your gums separating from your teeth. Worse case scenario: you end up actually loosing your teeth because of it.
Your toothbrush collects mold if you keep it in a covered container or in the shower due to trapped moisture.
IMPORTANT TIPS
Sanitize your toothbrush by soaking it in alcohol or dipping it in boiling water.
Let your toothbrush air dry.
Stand it in upright position away from the toilet. When using the toilet, make sure to close toilet lid before flushing to prevent fecal matter from getting into the air and depositing onto bristles. See the “Mythbusters” experiment (yes, this has been proven).