It May Be Time to Change Your Toothbrush
Proper Oral Care
Many people don’t consider the connection between proper oral health and overall health. The condition of your mouth can affect the rest of your body. Most bacteria in your mouth are harmless, but some can be quite harmful, causing disease. Normally your natural defences and proper oral care, keep bacteria in control, but you can also maintain basic practices to keep your mouth healthy. Brush your teeth a minimum of twice a day for two minutes long, brush your tongue, floss nightly before bed, eat a healthy diet that limits sugary foods and drinks, and visit a dentist twice a year.
When is it Time for a New Toothbrush?
How often should you replace your toothbrush? If you want to get the most out of your brushing sessions and avoid getting sick, dentists and manufacturers recommend that you get a new toothbrush every three to six months. This time frame is based on brushing your teeth twice a day for around two minutes. These guidelines have been determined by dental professionals.
You May Require More Frequent Replacement
If, however, you are one of those people that are more diligent about your oral hygiene, you might need to replace your toothbrush more frequently than every three to six months. If you brush your teeth after every meal your toothbrush will break down sooner and need to be replaced more frequently.
There is also the risk of spreading germs. Cold and flu germs can survive on a toothbrush for up to three days, so if you keep your toothbrush in close proximity to the rest of your family’s toothbrushes, and you have had a cold, replace your toothbrush.
Electric toothbrushes vibrate or rotate. This action can wear down nylon bristles. Because of this, and the fact that electric toothbrush bristles are shorter, to begin with, you’ll need to replace them sooner than the three-month limit. An easy way to keep track is to follow the manufacturer’s replacement instructions.
How Do You Know?
The bristles of a toothbrush that needs to be replaced have lost their ability to clean. They splay or change shape and fail to reach the important places between the teeth, or along the gum line. If your bristles aren’t maintaining their original shape, and they are no longer straight and rigid, toss the toothbrush.
Proper Care and Storage
Make sure to rinse your brush after every use so that food particles don’t attract bacteria. A toothbrush is a place where germs hang out. Keep your toothbrush away from other sources of germs and bacteria, like toilets or other people’s hygiene materials. Germs can get transferred easily, particularly if a tube of toothpaste is shared. It is easy to get others in your household sick. Also, keep it in a place that allows it to dry out. A moist environment simply gives germs a chance to propagate.
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