Another reason you should change your toothbrush every three months is that over time, your toothbrush bristles will become worn out. Worn-out bristles tend to be more abrasive on your gums, which can lead to premature gum recession and inflammation in your gums.
It affects its ability to remove food particles and bacteria effectively. These can lead to tooth decay, cavities, bad breath, and gum diseases. Dentists recommend we replace toothbrush every 3 to 4 months will minimize the risks of these dental conditions.
“The average person should be swapping out for a new toothbrush every three to four months,” explains Dr. Sienna Palmer, DDS, dentist at Meridien Dental in Santa Monica, CA. “This is recommended to ensure that the bristles are still effective and bacteria accumulation on the toothbrush is minimal.”
Summary. While it's true that germs in your mouth when you're sick can get onto your toothbrush, that doesn't mean you'll get sick again if you continue to use your toothbrush when you're better. That said, your toothbrush could spread germs to other people in your home if you share a holder or toothpaste.
Viruses and bacteria from an infected person's mouth can live for weeks on a toothbrush surface, and continue to cause illness, says Cooper, a clinical associate professor at the University of Florida College of Dentistry.
In removing plaque and other soft debris from the teeth, tooth brushes become contaminated with bacteria, blood, saliva and oral debris. These contaminated tooth brushes can be a source of infection.
However, if the same toothbrush is used over, and over, and over again for a long time, the bacteria will start to take over. Additionally, a new toothbrush has straight, tight bristles. But as we use them, they tend to become frayed.
It can be bad for your gums.
A toothbrush that you've had for a long time can actually be hard on your gums. Most of the bacteria that can get into your bloodstream when you brush your teeth will make an entrance through the soft tissues of your mouth.
Your toothbrush may look the same and may feel the same as it did when you first got it, but it still should be replaced every 3 to 4 months.
If your brush head has lost effectiveness, it may leave plaque behind and can even hurt your gums. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you replace your toothbrush head approximately every three to four months (around 90 days) to prevent bacteria from building up on the bristles.
But most research suggests that if you don't brush your teeth for a year, you are putting yourself at considerable risk for cavities, advanced tooth decay, and periodontal disease.
While you should leave your toothbrush on your bathroom counter, keep it away from your toilet's vicinity. Your toothbrush is more likely to be exposed to fecal bacteria that's splashed into the air when you flush your toilet.
When you don't brush regularly, plaque builds up on teeth, can harden into tartar, and provide a nice environment for bacteria to thrive. These bacteria can work their way into your gums and cause an infection.
Boil your toothbrush for about 3 minutes. Although it is hard on your toothbrush, boiling water will most germs. A toothbrush can be put into the silverware compartment of the dishwasher to be sanitized. Run your toothbrush through on the hot cycle without soap.
Can a toothbrush really be used for DNA testing? The answer is Yes. Our in-house geneticists have undertaken viability studies to prove that used toothbrushes can be a good source of DNA.
Toothbrushes can have germs on them even after rinsing that could raise the risk of infection, especially for people with immune suppression. After brushing, rinse your toothbrush with tap water until it is completely clean, let it air-dry, and store it in an upright position.
But when misused, an electric toothbrush can actually cause more harm than good. Using an electric toothbrush won't damage your teeth — but misusing one can lead to tooth damage, sensitivity, and gum recession.
Electric toothbrushes have a two minute timer, which should be enough to brush all your teeth, but if you need longer to make sure you've brushed each individual tooth well, that's fine. And they also have a red indicator light which shows if you're applying too much pressure, so do pay attention to that.
Old Bristles Can Harm Your Gums
As the toothbrush wears down, the nylon strands are made sharper and coarser, which can cause them to wear away at your gums and even cause damage to your enamel.
Wetting before softens toothbrush bristles and rinses off debris. Wetting after ensures the toothpaste melts into your toothbrush so it doesn't roll off. Not wetting your toothbrush means there aren't extra steps between applying toothpaste and brushing.
Short answer: no, you should not rinse your mouth immediately after brushing your teeth. Most toothpastes contain an active ingredient called fluoride, which is a mineral that helps prevent tooth decay. When you rinse with water after brushing, you're prematurely washing out the fluoride that's working on your teeth.
One common way to disinfect your toothbrush is through the use of mouthwash, like Listerine. You'll want to soak your toothbrush in the solution for at least 3 to 5 minutes at a time. After the specified amount of time, make sure you rinse your toothbrush thoroughly before use.