Using the toothbrush is one of the most traditional ways to clean your teeth. Though nowadays many liquid wash or medicated mouth washes are available in the market, still most of the population across the world is using a toothbrush to clean their teeth.
However, most people keep using the same toothbrush for many days or
months. They don't know when to change their toothbrush, or even many of them
don't even think about replacing it with a new one, unless the bristles of the
older one are completely worn out.
But here we need to understand that we should not use the same toothbrush for longer than a few days and replace it from time to time. So, right here we will discuss about how often you replace your toothbrush, why it is important and how to learn to change your toothbrush.
How Long Should you use the Same Toothbrush?
Usually when
after every three or four months, you should change your toothbrush. However,
if you are brushing two times a day and don't remember when you started using
this toothbrush, you can check if it becomes frayed, discoloured or splayed; you
need to replace it with a new one.
However, some
people brush very softly or use the hard-bristle toothbrush that is not splayed
or frayed, so they keep using it for longer days. So, the question right here
is, how can we get to know when to change the toothbrush at the right
time?
How to Know When to Change a Toothbrush?
Remembering how
many months you have been using your toothbrush is one of the best ways to
change it in a timely manner. However, if you don't have such a strong memory
or don't care about keeping in mind the dates of such things, you can use
various other indications to replace your toothbrush.
Condition of Bristles: When
the bristles of your toothbrush bend or get tangled, it's time to buy a new
one. Such old, frayed toothbrushes are not able to clean between your teeth
properly or can damage your gums, tooth enamel, or soft tissues in your
mouth.
After The Illness: Whenever
you get ill or recover after any sickness, you need to change your toothbrush
immediately, as it can contain the bacteria or germs responsible for making you
ill. Usually, after a common cold, a fever or after any mouth-related allergy,
you need to change your toothbrush.
Becomes Infected: if your
toothbrush is infected by falling into dirt or an unclean surface, or any
insect that moves over it, you need to replace it with a new one. As it can
cause you infections or illness in your mouth.
After Oral Treatment: If you
gone through any oral treatment line dental procedure, dental treatment, gums
or oral treatment, then you need to change your toothbrush.
Why is it Important to Change Your Toothbrush?
When you use the
same toothbrush for more than 3 to 4 months, it becomes ineffective in cleaning
your teeth properly or removing plaque. The bristles of a long-used toothbrush
wear off or bend, which cannot clean your teeth properly, exposing them to
bacterial attacks.
And when your teeth
are not properly cleaned, there is a higher risk of cavities, plaque, gum
diseases or other dental problems. And using the old toothbrush also has the
chance of mould, harbouring bacteria and fungi, which can cause
infections. On the other hand, using the new toothbrush ensures deep cleaning,
preventing your teeth from gum buildup for a healthier mouth.
Why Change Toothbrush Every 3 Months?
Changing the
toothbrush every 3 or 4 months ensures the effectiveness of the bristles. An
old or used toothbrush becomes ineffective in cleaning the food particles stuck
between the teeth or
You should
change your toothbrush every 3-4 months, or sooner if bristles fray,
because worn bristles are less effective at cleaning, lose their shape,
and can harbour bacteria, fungi, and viruses, increasing your risk for oral
infections and gum damage. After illnesses like the flu or strep throat, it's important
to replace it to prevent reintroducing germs.
Why change a toothbrush after being sick?
When you get
ill, especially due to a cold, flu, strep throat, mouth infection or COVID-19-like
diseases, you need to replace your toothbrush after recovering from such
sickness. The bacteria, virus or reintroducing germs on the bristle of your
toothbrush can live after such prolonged illness.
While recovering
from such diseases, your immunity, which helps you to recover, can be affected
by using the same toothbrush. And most importantly, when you use such an
infected toothbrush, the bacteria or germs can spread to other toothbrushes of
your family members.
What Happens if You Use the Same Toothbrush for Too Long?
When you keep
using the same toothbrush for longer periods, it becomes ineffective in
cleaning your teeth. And this can cause plaque build-up on your teeth,
resulting in tooth decay and cavities.
And improper cleaning of teeth becomes the breeding ground for the
bacteria, fungi, and mould that increase the chances of reinfection, bad
breath, gum diseases and illness.
As we said, an
old toothbrush bristle becomes bent or frayed, so people put extra pressure
while brushing their teeth, which can damage the tooth enamel or cause injury
to the gums. On the other hand, using the new toothbrush will enable you to
clean your teeth properly, preventing them from bacteria and germs.
Summing-up
Changing the
toothbrush every 3 to 4 months is very important to clean your teeth properly.
The bristles of an old toothbrush are worn off and cannot clean the teeth
properly. And this will attract bacteria and germs in your mouth, causing
plaque, cavities, and tooth decay and gum diseases.
And not only
after 3 or 4 months, if you get ill and recover from any disease, but you
should replace your toothbrush to avoid reintroduction of such bacteria or gum
disease. And it will prevent the spreading of bacteria or germs to other
toothbrushes of your family members.
So, always keep
in mind to replace your toothbrush after every 3 to 4 months to avoid oral
diseases and stay healthy. And you should keep regularly visiting your nearest best dentist in Greater Noida to get a routine check-up of your mouth or get the dental
treatment timely.
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