Your toothbrush is a crucial element in your oral hygiene regimen. You use it at least twice each day to scrub your smile and get rid of lingering particles that may otherwise harm your oral health.
Over time, the bristles of your toothbrush will wear down, meaning you must replace your toothbrush. But with proper maintenance, you can keep your toothbrush functioning as well as possible for longer. Discover four ways to take care of your toothbrush when you read on.
Brush with Proper Technique
Brushing your teeth with proper methods and techniques is crucial to clean your smile effectively. But using gentle circular movements while brushing will also help you maintain your toothbrush.
If you brush too harshly, you could damage the bristles of the brush as well as your teeth and gums. Then the bristles become bent, frayed, and worn at a faster rate. The toothbrush cannot scrub as well as necessary, and you need to replace it sooner. So pay attention to the way that you brush your teeth.
Rinse Your Toothbrush After Use
Rinsing your toothbrush is an important step during your teeth-brushing regimen. You start the process by wetting your brush under running tap water. But when you finish brushing, you need to rinse lingering toothpaste and oral bacteria from the brush too.
This process reduces the risk of bacterial spread that can make you sick. When you contract a contagious illness, you should toss your toothbrush and get a new one to lower the chance of transmitting the sickness. If you prevent catching an illness, you can use your toothbrush for longer.
Store Your Toothbrush in the Open
A moist environment makes for an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. So you want to ensure you store your toothbrush in the open air where it can air dry effectively. Covering the toothbrush head will prevent proper drying and encourage mold or bacteria growth.
You should also store your toothbrush in an upright position. This allows excess water in the brush bristles to drain more quickly. Then you can prevent bacterial spread and preserve your toothbrush as well as your health.
Replace Your Toothbrush in a Timely Fashion
As mentioned, your toothbrush will not last forever. Eventually, you will need to buy a new one when the bristles become worn. A traditional manual toothbrush will require replacement every three or four months.
An electric toothbrush features shorter bristles, which means they become frayed more quickly. You should replace an electric toothbrush head every twelve weeks. If you notice the bristles seem worn or frayed before that point, replace the toothbrush sooner.
You will also need to get rid of all toothbrushes in the household if someone gets sick. This majorly reduces the risk of spreading illness.
Your dentist’s office can provide you with a toothbrush at your regular dental check-up, but you can also browse toothbrush options at your local shop. Ask your dentist about what type of toothbrush will best clean your smile.