Brushing your teeth is and will always be one of the most important things you can do for your oral health. That makes your toothbrush one of the most important tools you own. And everybody knows you need to take care of your tools. Nobody loves a dull knife, a worn-out saw blade, or a busted iPhone screen. Why should a manky toothbrush be any different?
The American Dental Association recommends changing your toothbrush at least every three to four months. Signs that a toothbrush needs to be changed include frayed or bent bristles or faded bristle colors. Electric toothbrush heads might need to be changed slightly more often.
Brushing your teeth with a soft- or medium-bristled toothbrush in good condition is step number one in keeping your mouth healthy and cavity free.
What happens if you don’t change your toothbrush?
There’s no Toothbrush Enforcement Agency that’s going to come busting down your door. The responsibility is all yours, and so are the consequences:
- A worn toothbrush is much less effective than a fresh toothbrush. If the bristles are bent and frayed, then the tips are likely no longer making full contact with your tooth. Rather than brushing your teeth, you’re probably just wiping the sides of the bristles across a less concentrated area. And while the tips of the bristles should be bending just slightly to clean between the teeth and gum line, now they’re bent away and missing it entirely.
- With a toothbrush in good condition, the bristles will be gently rounded at the tips. If this rounding gets worn away to sharper, frayed endings, you could be scratching the enamel of your teeth rather than brushing away the plaque.
How do you know if a toothbrush is worn out?
A visual inspection should be enough. In a new toothbrush, the bristles will stand together, parallel to one another. As the toothbrush wears from use, the bristles will start to bend and possibly fray. If some of the bristles of the new brush are colored — blue, green, pink, or some other color — that’s not just decorative. These colors are designed to fade away as the brush becomes worn to let you know that it’s time for a replacement.
It’s time for a new toothbrush when your old brush is visibly worn, if the bristle colors have faded, or if you’ve been using it for four months — whichever comes first.
Should you disinfect a toothbrush?
According to the ADA, it’s not really necessary to disinfect a toothbrush. Although toothbrushes do harbor bacteria, this bacteria has not been shown to have any negative health effects.
If you do wish to sanitize your toothbrush, consider rinsing it in Listerine mouthwash or a solution of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. (Microwaving a toothbrush or running it through a dishwasher is not recommended, since heat can damage the bristles.)
Even if you’ve been ill, you don’t need to worry about your toothbrush reinfecting you with the same germs you’ve just recovered from — although it’s good practice to always keep your toothbrush separate from other people’s toothbrushes.
What’s the best way to store a toothbrush?
After you’ve used a toothbrush, rinse it with water to clean off any paste or debris. Store the toothbrush upright in a place where it can air dry. It’s not a good idea to put a moist toothbrush into a closed container, since the moisture will have a harder time drying and microbial growth will be more likely.
What if I forget to change my toothbrush?
As mentioned above, there are no toothbrush police. But using an old, worn-out toothbrush will have a negative impact on your oral health. So this is all up to you. If you need a gentle reminder, some toothbrush manufacturers will let you sign up for subscriptions so that you’ll receive a new toothbrush or toothbrush head in the mail at just the right time. Or you can consider setting up a recurring shipment on Amazon for your favorite toothbrush.
