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Tooth brushing Mistake No.10: “Not Changing the Toothbrush Often Enough”
A toothbrush isn’t something you buy once and keep forever. Proper toothbrush replacement protocol requires that you change your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Not changing your toothbrush could lead to improper cleaning of your teeth, gums, and mouth due to frayed bristles and accumulated germs over time. Brushing with braces can cause more wear and tear on the brush, obviously, but that issue can be alleviated with removable Invisalign.
How to Tell When to Change Your Toothbrush
How to tell when your toothbrush is nearing the end of its lifespan? Simply pay attention to the bristles. If they spew in multiple directions then it’s time to get a new brush. However, you shouldn’t necessarily wait that long. Some of the bristles start to fatigue even without being visible to the naked eye. When bristles wear down, they lose their effectiveness and they don’t clean as effectively. A lot of it depends on how heavy your hand is as well. The heavier your hand when brushing, the more quickly you need to change your brush. Many toothbrushes have a color-coded system that give you clear indication when the lifespan of the toothbrush is coming to an end.
How to Increase Lifespan of Brush
There are many ways to increase the lifespan of your toothbrush. Store your toothbrush upright to ensure that water drips off it. The drier the toothbrush, the less accumulation of moisture and thus fewer germs. Further, you can clean your toothbrush by soaking it in boiling water for a few seconds, or soaking it in your mouthwash. Finally, keep it out of the open in the bathroom to prevent germ accumulation. Recent studies show that germs are not necessarily as dangerous on a toothbrush as previously thought. However, it’s good to nonetheless follow proper hygiene by washing out the toothbrush thoroughly after use and storing it in a dry environment.
Scheduling Replacement
It’s a good idea to have a routine attached to changing your toothbrush. Assuming you arrange an appointment to see us every six months for a cleaning, you could change your toothbrush right after the visit, as well as midway between appointments.
Make an Appointment Today
In order to have the perfect teeth, it is important to see a local orthodontist. There is none quite as good as Dr. Tisseront. When you visit Dr. Tisseront, you will learn more about their dental services such as what it takes to put in all kinds of braces like Invisalign. That’s why the next time you need Invisalign or any other type of braces placed on your teeth, give us a call.
Specializing in Aesthetic Orthodontics (Lingual braces, Invisalign and Clear braces).
Phone: (703) 773-1200
