How often should you change your toothbrush?

We are usually told that we need to brush our teeth at least 2 times a day to keep our teeth clean and that we need to change our toothbrush after a certain period of time, but do you know why and how often are you supposed to replace your toothbrush?

why and when to change your toothbrush?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),the toothbrush is generally recommended to be replaced every three months.If you use an electric toothbrush, you need to replace the brush head every 3 months.why did you do this? because after the toothbrush has been used for a long time, the local bristles will be deformed, expand outward and become barb-shaped, which will cause damage to the gums after brushing. The toothbrush will contain a large amount of bacteria after being used for a long time. Even if it is dried, the bacteria will still exist, and it will not be particularly good for the health of the oral cavity. It is recommended to switch out the toothbrush every three months or so and then buy a new one.

exceptions

•  toothbrush “overworked”

The above advice on how often to replace your toothbrush is an exception for people who have a lot of crowns and fillings. “Those toothbrushes will break down and wear out faster than people who don’t have one,” says Crum. Both crowns and fillings create a lot of uneven surfaces and rough edges in your mouth, making the toothbrush “overworked.” .

• Children’s toothbrushes

Children’s toothbrushes should be changed more frequently because children like to chew on the bristles.

• Gum disease

effectively,” explains Dr. Kram. We need to brush and floss at least every 24 hours to remove plaque and bacteria from our mouths. “Just 48 hours is enough to cause inflammation, which can lead to periodontal [gum] disease,” she cautions.

According to the National Institute of Dentistry and Craniofacial Research, early signs of gum disease (gingivitis) include, but are not limited to, red, swollen or painful and bleeding gums, and bad breath. If you’re not paying attention in the earliest stages of gum disease, it can damage your bones, which means you’ll start losing teeth.

If the bacteria that cause periodontitis gets into your bloodstream, it can also affect other parts of your body. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, gum disease may be linked to heart disease, respiratory disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and difficulty controlling blood sugar.

• Tooth decay

Bacteria can combine with leftover food to form plaque, a sticky, bacteria-laden biofilm, on teeth. This plaque feeds on the sugars and starches in the foods you eat, producing acids that erode the outer enamel of your teeth, leading to cavities and even tooth loss.

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research explains that fluoride in toothpaste works with water, along with calcium and phosphate in saliva, to repair tooth enamel. But if you stick to a sugary, starchy diet without brushing and changing your toothbrush regularly, this natural protective mechanism can quickly be overwhelmed.

• Other

Another exception is if you contract a potentially infectious disease and you don’t buy a new toothbrush. “You could reinfect yourself,” said Janna Burnett, a clinical assistant professor of integrative dentistry at Texas A&M University School of Dentistry in Dallas. Burnett added that if you put your toothbrush If you drop it on the toilet brush or any other dirty spot, seriously consider getting a new toothbrush too.

You may extend the time between changing your toothbrush, but it’s best to do it early. The truth is that toothbrushes don’t last forever, and not replacing them can lead to troubles, namely cavities and periodontal (gum) disease. Both diseases can be prevented with good home care and regular checkups. “We want to have the right tools, make sure they’re in good condition, and know how to use them,” said Sally Cram, D.D., spokesperson for the American Dental Association (ADA) and a practicing periodontist in Washington, D.C. “Here’s what you need to know about changing your toothbrush and the consequences if you don’t.

It may seem ironic that you need to clean the tools you use to clean your teeth, but it’s really necessary to take care of your toothbrush and keep it hygienic.

Over time, if you don’t rinse or clean your toothbrush thoroughly, you can end up with a hardened layer of toothpaste that often looks a little unpleasant.
Is your electric toothbrush like this?

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Clean an Electric Toothbrush

This humble toothbrush should be used twice a day for 2 minutes to clean your teeth, but luckily you don’t need to spend that long cleaning the toothbrush itself.You can leave it without proper cleaning for days or maybe weeks, and a quick rinse under the faucet can keep it looking fairly fresh.

However, sometimes you need to clean the toothbrush itself (including the base, handle and head).

The mouth is the entryway into your body, and bacteria can live on your brush and brush head, so keeping your brush clean won’t hurt.Of course, keeping your brushes clean will also help extend the life of your brushes and reduce the chance of dirt degrading your brush material.You may not be as picky as I am, but personally, I tend to rinse and wipe my toothbrush every few days to get rid of toothpaste and grime that’s left on the toothbrush.You might be a little more picky and do this every day.It doesn’t matter how often you do it as long as you do it often.

Power brushes from leading brands like Oral-B and Philips are completely waterproof, so you can rinse them under the tap without worrying about affecting the brush’s operation.In most cases, cold or lukewarm water and wiping with a cloth or towel will remove excess dirt. You don’t need a special toothbrush cleaner.Cotton swabs or even toothpicks can be used to access harder-to-reach areas and help remove tougher baking dirt.For those who are particularly concerned about toothbrush hygiene, there is also an option to use a toothbrush sanitizer to ensure all germs and germs are removed.You can choose a special toothbrush, such as the Philips Sonicare Universal UV Brush Head Sterilizer.Failing to take good care of your electric toothbrush can mean you won’t get the best possible clean with every brush.If the bristles are worn or frayed, they won’t be as effective at removing plaque.

Here are some tips on how to care for your toothbrush,it can make your toothbrush last longer.

• Daily maintenance of electric toothbrush
• If possible, you should do the following things every day to keep your toothbrush in good condition.
• Rinse your toothbrush with running water after use to remove toothpaste and debris.
• Don’t brush your teeth excessively. Too much pressure on the toothbrush can cause the bristles to wear out faster and be less effective when cleaning.
• Hold the toothbrush upright and let it air dry.

While these things don’t need to be done every day, you should try and complete the following on a regular basis to ensure your brushes remain functional and hygienic.

• Replace your electric toothbrush heads every three months and the blue indicator bristles will fade halfway to remind you of this.
• If the bristles are worn and not as tight as new brush heads, replace brush heads within 3 months.
• First use will require a longer charger or up to 16 hours to get the brush fully charged and ready to use.
• If necessary, use a cotton swab, toothpick, or mild detergent to help remove old, dry dirt, then gently press to remove it. Avoid damaging the plastic and rubber bodies of the brushes.
• While it’s safe to keep it charged at all times, for optimal battery life, make sure to use the brush at least every 6 months until very little charge is left, then recharge. This will help extend the life of the battery.

Whatever your opinion or opinion on cleaning and sanitizing your toothbrush, I highly recommend that you stay as clean as possible, stay healthy, and extend the life of your electric toothbrush.

How to Clean a Manual Toothbrush？

Cleaning a manual toothbrush isn’t much different than cleaning an electric toothbrush — either toothbrush is pretty straightforward — but in the sections below, we’ve provided additional details on long-term toothbrush maintenance.

• Rinse the toothbrush thoroughly with tap water after brushing
• Store the brush upright and let it air dry
• Change brushes every 3 months
• Avoid frequently covering or storing the brush head in an airtight container
• Do not share toothbrushes

The above considerations are based on recommendations provided by the American Dental Association (ADA).By following these, you have the best chance of making sure your toothbrush doesn’t contain harmful levels of bacteria.

The ADA does state that, “Although studies have shown that various microorganisms can grow on toothbrushes after use, and other studies have examined various methods of reducing the levels of these bacteria, there is insufficient clinical evidence to support that bacterial growth on toothbrushes can cause specific adverse oral or systemic health effects”.

This means that if bacteria grows on your toothbrush, the chances of it having any serious knock-on effects on you and your health are very low, and there’s no real evidence to back that up.

Nonetheless, there are factors you can consider to further ensure that you are protecting yourself and others when using your toothbrush, but the evidence and beneficial effects are unclear or not necessarily significant.

• • Regularly clean any storage containers used for toothbrushes
  • Soak toothbrush in mouthwash
  • Put in boiling water
  • Use a disinfectant
  • Home remedies
  • Use a dishwasher or microwave

Now, let me explain all of this and the reasons behind these caveats.First, what you should do.

• Rinse the toothbrush thoroughly with tap water after brushing

By rinsing the brush with water from the faucet, the volume and force it has in contact with and through the bristles will remove most of the food debris and toothpaste left on or in the bristles, reducing the source of bacteria that feed on food and grow.

• Store the brush upright and let it air dry

By allowing the toothbrush to stand upright and air dry, excess moisture can be lost from the bristles, and they can dry naturally, reducing the chance of bacterial growth.
If stored with other toothbrushes, as is common in household settings, avoid the bristles of one brush touching the bristles of another brush to reduce the chance of cross-contamination.

• Change brushes every 3 months

Over time, the bristles of the brush head will naturally degrade. They can crack, fray, fray or be damaged due to our brushing routine. They are not designed to last or last longer.As they reduce the effectiveness of cleaning your teeth, the head can cause more damage to your teeth and gums.

Changing your toothbrush on average every 3 months or so is a good habit to maintain a good level of oral health. However, depending on your teeth and brushing style, you may need to replace your brush heads more often. Always ask your dentist for their advice.

• Avoid frequently covering or storing the brush head in an airtight container

If the brush head is covered, the moist environment it is in may be an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria and the microorganisms that make up harmful bacteria. This is great when the brush needs to be popped in a travel case or container, but avoid doing it all the time if possible.

Things you shouldn’t do explained

• Do not share toothbrushes

By sharing your toothbrush, you put yourself and other users at risk of exchanging bodily fluids and microbes. While seemingly harmless, people who share toothbrushes are at greater risk of infection and may be more harmful to people with compromised or weakened immune systems.

Learn more about the problem of sharing toothbrushes.

Explanation of precautions

• Avoid excessive brushing

Not only do you want to avoid overbrushing for the sake of your teeth and gums, if you brush more often than you need, or use more pressure than you actually need, the bristles of your brush may break down faster. When the bristles are damaged, they are less effective and can interfere with cleaning when brushing.

• Take extra precautions while sick

If you or someone else in your household is sick or suffers from any illness or illness, you may need to take extra “common sense” precautions depending on your living arrangements.
This is especially true if you have e.g. a family bathroom and all toothbrushes are stored in one container. It may be advantageous to replace the brushes as soon as possible.
If a family member has a particularly contagious infection or disease, you may want to keep their toothbrushes away from others to stay as healthy as possible.

• Store away from places such as toilets

While there’s limited evidence that toilet spills can cause contamination, keeping your toothbrush away from this may be a good practice to prevent any possible bacterial problems.
This doesn’t mean going out of your way, but taking reasonable precautions, such as not storing brushes on or directly over the toilet, if you can avoid it.

• Regularly clean any storage containers used for toothbrushes

If you store your brush in a cup or holder, any excess moisture on top may run to the bottom.You may be left with a pool of water or residue that contains germs and bacteria that you don’t want on or around your toothbrush.Regular cleaning of this container really helps protect the brush from any contamination.

• Soak toothbrush in mouthwash

This study suggests that soaking in mouthwash is likely beneficial, but the ADA has not seen any clinical evidence of a benefit. If the same cup of mouthwash is used for multiple toothbrushes, there is a potential problem of cross-contamination.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) specifically states that you do not need to do this.A better option might be to use a toothbrush sanitizer.

• Put in boiling water

High heat may indeed help clean and kill some bacterial strains, it is not a proven technology and may or may not have beneficial effects.

• Use toothbrush sanitizer

It is easy to misunderstand the terms disinfection and sterilization. They are very similar yet different.Disinfection means 99.9% less bacteria. Disinfection destroys all living things.
Therefore, when brushing your teeth, technical disinfection is a more effective way to ensure ultimate safety.
There are many different disinfectants on the market to consider and may be effective or give you peace of mind, even if the data have yet to convince leading dental organizations and institutions to promote them as a way to reduce bacteria.
The ADA clearly states, “While there is evidence of bacterial growth on toothbrushes, there is no clinical evidence that soaking toothbrushes in antibacterial mouthwashes or using commercially available toothbrush sanitizers has any positive or negative effect on the mouth or body.”

• locker items

Some people suggest a combination of water, vinegar, and baking soda to clean your toothbrush, but there’s no clinical evidence that this actually works.
According to the ADA, using the dishwasher or microwave may damage the toothbrush and reduce the effectiveness of the bristles and brushes.
Putting a toothbrush in a dishwasher or microwave cycle might sound like a logical and sensible idea. While it has the potential to remove bacteria due to the heat and cleaning technology used, it is not a proven technology and toothbrush manufacturers do not design toothbrushes to be used in this way.