When and Why Should You Replace Your Toothbrush?

What do you do when you find medicines, food items, or even beauty products beyond their expiry dates? You dispose of them, right? But when it comes to maintaining dental hygiene by replacing your toothbrush chances are that you persist with the frayed one for long. Most dentists, including the dentistin Carlton, recommend replacing the toothbrush every three months. This is due to the fact that with time your toothbrush undergoes normal wear and tear thereby reducing its effectiveness in removing plaque or hidden food particles in your teeth. Even studies have found that 3 months are enough for the toothbrush bristles to get frayed and break. Besides, the bristles of your toothbrush can hide colonies of germs thus necessitating replacement. This needs to be done to prevent infection after you had a cold or fever.

How to keep your toothbrush germ-free?

It is important that you wash, rinse, and dry your toothbrush after use as the bristles may allow colonies of fungus and bacteria to grow. If the contaminated toothbrush is used again the chances of you getting infected can increase. The toothbrush should be stored in an uncovered area in an upright position, and possibly kept away from other used toothbrushes. Also, during travel, make sure to cover the toothbrush, especially its head to protect it from germs.

 

In case you forget the duration for which you have been using the toothbrush, you can look at the head of your toothbrush to know if it is time for a replacement. For example, if the bristles are worn out or frayed or if there is any change of colour, it should be replaced. The change in colour, especially dark can be a sign of mold.

What happens if you don’t replace your toothbrush when needed?

To begin with, the colonies of microorganisms hidden in the bristles can enter your mouth and other parts of your body including the heart valves. According to a study, the bacteria associated with tooth decay can cause coronary heart disease. The other reason you should not continue using your worn-out toothbrush is the possibility of damaging your gums. Since worn-out bristles cannot remove tough depositions of plaque, the bacteria lying within the plaque can cause gingivitis. If the disease is left untreated and you fail to visit a dental professional, say a dentist in Fairfield, then the gums holding your teeth can become loose and weak resulting in the loss of your teeth. Also, if your toothbrush has depositions of mold then the same can be ingested by you leading to serious ailments of the gastrointestinal tract.

Type of toothbrush to buy 

Dentists recommend a toothbrush with soft bristles as hard ones can damage your teeth and gums. Moreover, the toothbrush head should be of an optimum size such that it can touch a single or two teeth at once. Besides, it is better to use fluoride-based toothpaste and mouthwash to eliminate the microorganisms present in the nook and crannies of your teeth.

Conclusion

A toothbrush is an integral part of maintaining your regular dental hygiene. Care should be taken to replace it once it gets worn out or frayed instead of risking infection. Additionally, it is better to visit your dentist in Northcote periodically to identify and treat any hidden dental ailment.