How often should I change my toothbrush?

A common question we’re asked is, ‘how often should I change my toothbrush?’ and it’s a fairly simple answer! If you’re following oral health guidelines, you need to change your toothbrush every 12-16 weeks, which means once every season. There are a few reasons why this is so, but it all comes down to giving your teeth the best possible care.

Old vs new – why replace your toothbrush?

There’s nothing quite like the sparkly clean feeling of teeth brushed with a brand-new toothbrush and most of us know it’s time to replace the old when we’re no longer getting that satisfyingly-smooth feeling after brushing. Guidelines for replacing your toothbrush are agreed upon by virtually all dental health authorities worldwide, and for good reason.

Our toothbrushes are our main defence against gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath. The nylon bristles are designed to get into the cracks, crevices, and small spaces in our mouths to remove food and bacteria.

If you’re following recommended oral hygiene ie. brushing for two minutes twice a day, toothbrushes will begin to wear out at around 12 weeks. Bristles soften, bend, and fall out, decreasing effectiveness and increasing the risk of plaque buildup.

Is it the same for electric toothbrushes?

An electric toothbrush head will need changing every 12 weeks or sooner. This is because the nylon bristles are shorter than those of a manual brush and so tend to fray quicker. Watch for signs of flaring of the bristles to know when it’s time to replace the head.

Other reasons to change your toothbrush

All going to plan, you’re looking at 12-16 weekly toothbrush renewal, however there are a few reasons why you may need to change a toothbrush more often.

  1. Sickness – it’s a good idea to replace toothbrushes after you or your family members have been sick so as to rid the house of any viral or bacterial germs.
  2. Young children – they love to gnaw or chew on their toothbrushes. This will cause obvious splaying of the bristles and decrease efficiency faster.
  3. Young children, again – tots are all about exploring and their toothbrushes can end up in less than sanitary places… Keep watch to make sure they’re not ‘brushing’ any surfaces besides their teeth.
  4. Toothbrush swapping – change your toothbrush if anyone else uses it. We each have our own mouth bacteria that’s unique to us and it’s not a good idea to swap. 

How to take care of your toothbrush

Your toothbrush is your most important oral hygiene tool and should be treated as such! You can take extra steps toward caring for your teeth by simply caring for your brush:

  • Rinse your toothbrush with water only – don’t ‘sanitise’ your toothbrush. As counterintuitive as it may sound, attempting to sanitise your toothbrush can actually spread germs.
  • Keep your toothbrush to yourself – don’t share your brush with anyone else and try not to the let the heads touch if you store it in a cup with other toothbrushes.
  • Avoid storing your toothbrush in closed containers when not in use – this can lead to mould growth. Let your toothbrush dry in the open air.

Regardless of manual or electric, adult’s or child’s, toothbrushes need care in order to take care of our teeth, and this includes replacing them every 12 or so weeks. So why not welcome in a new season with a new set of toothbrushes for the family? 

Time for a checkup? Get in touch to book a consult or appointment with Dr Carolyn and the team.