How often should you change toothbrush?

How long a toothbrush lasts and when you should change toothbrush depends on what kind it is and how you use it. While some people brush their teeth so hard their toothbrush only lasts a couple of weeks, some brushes lasts longer because of their owners’ gentle hand and pressure.

First and foremost, it’s how you use your toothbrush that determines when you need to switch it out. If the bristles on the head of the brush point in all sorts of directions your toothbrush won’t have the same cleaning effect on your teeth as if it was new. It’s also important to remember that even though it doesn’t look worn out, the brush can have lost its cleaning effect because the suppleness of the bristles isn’t as good as it used to be. But how often should you change your toothbrush?

Experts advise to change toothbrush every third month or if the bristles on the toothbrush head look overused before three months have passed.

CHANGE TOOTHBRUSH AFTER BEING SICK

Did you know that you should change toothbrush for a new one after you’ve been sick? By doing this you won’t carry bacteria with you after being sick.

There’s no doubt that a new toothbrush cleans your teeth better and more efficient than a used one, but there are other reasons for changing your toothbrush. After three months using the same toothbrush it will also contain some bacteria.

PREVENT BACTERIA ON YOUR TOOTHBRUSH

If you don’t replace your toothbrush regularly you risk insufficient cleaning of your teeth, which can lead to dental plaque formation and cause tooth cavity, bad breath or other ailments.

Here’s three tips for better toothbrush hygiene:
• Rinse your toothbrush well in clean water after use and put it in a container with the bristles upwards so they can air dry.
• Avoid direct contact between the toothbrush and the environment around it. A tip is to keep it in a cabinet or drawer.
• Use a different toothbrush holder for each toothbrush. Bacteria can be transferred from one brush to another if they are kept in the same holder as another family member’s toothbrush.
• Do not share your toothbrush with others, and only use your own.

HOW TO REMEMBER TO CHANGE TOOTHBRUSH

A survey conducted in Norway on sales numbers for toothbrushes shows that people replace their toothbrush 2-3 times a year, which means every other 5,2 months. That’s almost two times less a year than advised.

Here are some tips on how you can remember to change your toothbrush as advised:
• Replace your toothbrush every season: winter, spring, summer and autumn.
• Change your toothbrush when you go on vacation and each holiday season. This gives you a fresh start on your vacation.
• Change your toothbrush when you buy toothpaste: Putting toothbrush up on your grocery store list is easy to forget. So, a good tip is to change your toothbrush each time you buy toothpaste.