How often Should I Change My Toothbrush?

Everyone knows that toothbrushes are temporary. Dentist Balmain explains that replacing these oral hygiene tools regularly protects you from infection and improves your overall dental health. However, it is not easy to define the specific period after which you should dispose of them.

According to dentists and toothbrush manufacturers, one should replace their toothbrush after about 12-16 weeks. Some situations, such as viral or bacterial diseases or if another person uses your toothbrush, might require you to do the replacement sooner than planned. Read on to learn more about replacing a manual toothbrush and changing an electric toothbrush head.

How often should you change your manual toothbrush?

Brushing your teeth prevents bad breath and helps fight against tooth decay and gum disease-causing bacteria. It also prevents your teeth from developing cavities. Your toothbrush plays a significant role in this process.

Dentist Balmain indicates that one should brush at least twice every day, regardless of the type of toothbrush they are using. Using your manual brush this will often cause its bristles to start falling off after the first three months. In addition to the consistent use, exposing the bristles to water and different chemicals in toothpaste also makes them weaker with time.

Bristle flaring makes your toothbrush less effective at cleaning teeth and removing plaque. Additionally, the mangled brush accumulates bacteria and can cause tooth decay and other dental illnesses. Dentist Balmain explains that it can also hurt your gum and cause bleeding.

To avoid such issues, the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) advises people to replace their manual toothbrushes after about three or four months. You can also throw it away and purchase a new one if the bristles become loose before the three months.

How often should you change an electric toothbrush head?

Some people prefer using electric toothbrushes, while others prefer using manual toothbrushes because the two will leave you with clean teeth. However, they differ in functionality. The former cleans the users’ teeth by vibrating and rotating. On the contrary, using a manual toothbrush requires you to apply pressure manually and move it around your teeth and gum.

The nylon bristles on electric toothbrush heads wear off after regular use. The fact that they are shorter makes them wear even faster. Therefore, you should consider replacing this head after every twelve weeks. You can also do the replacement earlier if the bristles fray more quickly than expected. To determine the appropriate time to change the electric toothbrush head, check it regularly to identify any signs of tear and wear.