Is it Time to Part With Your Toothbrush?

We donate our clothes when we outgrow them, and we throw out food when it spoils, but how often do you replace your toothbrush?

If you stop and think about exactly where your toothbrush goes (in your mouth) and what exactly you use it for (to clean your mouth), it may cross your mind that keeping it fresh is extremely important. The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush every three months, with six months being the longest you should ever go. If you keep up your regular bi-yearly dental appointments then that is easy enough to do since most dental practices give patients a free toothbrush with each cleaning!

Your mouth is made up of millions of tiny bacteria that are necessary for breaking down small food particles, yet they are also damaging when not brushed and flossed away daily. Because many of these bacteria leave the mouth via your toothbrush, it is important that they not be allowed to thrive on your toothbrush. You should always rinse your toothbrush and shake it vigorously under tap water in order to rinse away as many germs and bacteria as possible each time you use it, but this is not enough to make your toothbrush last for more than half a year.

Any time you are sick with a bad cold, the flu or strep throat, it is also extremely important that you replace your toothbrush immediately once you are well so that germs will not infect your system again via your toothbrush.

While your toothbrush is a necessary tool for maintaining proper oral hygiene, it is only as good as long as it is replaced on a regular basis. If it has been more than six months since you have replaced your toothbrush, it is time to part with your current toothbrush and get yourself a new one.

Contact Crabapple Dental to set up a dental cleaning and receive a new toothbrush!