Blog Summary: This blog post provides dentist-approved advice on how often to change your toothbrush. Learn why the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends replacing your toothbrush every 3-4 months and discover the importance of replacing it after illness. We also share practical tips on how to keep your toothbrush clean during everyday use, including proper storage and sanitizing techniques. Keep your smile healthy and bright by following these simple guidelines!
How long has your toothbrush been sitting on your bathroom counter? When was the last time you thought about replacing it?
If you have an old-school bristle toothbrush, you’ll need to toss the whole thing eventually. If, on the other hand, you use a newer electric toothbrush or a sonic toothbrush, you can just replace the brush head when it becomes worn. But when, exactly? That’s the 32-tooth question!
Find dentist-recommended answers below.
How Often Should I Change My Toothbrush? (Standard Manual Toothbrushes)
You might have heard that you should replace your toothbrush every 6 months. But just how sound is this advice?
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), that’s about as twice as long as you should wait. The ADA recommends replacing your toothbrush every 3-4 months, or more often if it’s looking raggedy (if its bristles are “visibly matted or frayed”).
So what’s the takeaway, aim to replace toothbrushes that might not *look* like they need replacing 3-4 times per year. Otherwise, replace your toothbrush sooner if you notice it looking rough.
How Often Should I Change My Toothbrush Head? (Electric & Sonic Toothbrushes)
What about when to change an electric toothbrush head? In truth, it doesn’t matter if you use a traditional style manual toothbrush or if you use an electric toothbrush. Either way, you should aim to replace it in accordance with ADA guidelines as outlined above.
Why Do I Need to Replace My Toothbrush Every 3-4 Months?
The reason for this recommendation is threefold.
- Bacteria can build up over time that even when not sick, could lead to sickness. (Did you know that your toothbrush is potentially home to about 1.2 million bacteria, including E. coli, staphylococci, yeast, and more?)
- Bad bacteria that build up on your toothbrush could also disrupt the oral microbiome even if they don’t immediately make you sick.
- When toothbrush bristles get worn out over time, they become significantly less effective at removing bacteria, plaque, and food particles, which could put you at higher risk for tooth and gum diseases over time.
When to Change a Toothbrush After Strep or Illness
How long should you wait to replace your toothbrush after you’ve been sick? Well…you shouldn’t!
As soon as your symptoms clear up, do your family a favor and replace that germy old toothbrush. This is because germs and viruses can live on your toothbrush for longer than you might think. For example, the flu can live on your toothbrush for up to three days!
Can you really reinfect yourself? Once recovered from an illness, it’s highly unlikely, but also not impossible. More likely is the chance that you’ll get others in your household sick.
Have your family member’s toothbrushes been stored near yours when sick or vice versa? It’s probably best to replace those too out of an abundance of caution, especially if anyone in your household is elderly, very young, or otherwise immunocompromised.
How to Keep Your Toothbrush Clean During Normal Use
There’s more to keeping your toothbrush clean than meets the eye. Here are some handy tips from our very own Dr. Kami Hoss for ensuring that you keep a clean toothbrush at all times:
1. Wash Up
You might not think about washing your hands before brushing your teeth, but you should. In fact, you should also wash your hands after brushing your teeth. This prevents transferring germs and bacteria to your toothbrush and from your toothbrush to others in your household.
2. Stand it Up and Dry it Out
After brushing, shake off excess water and then store your toothbrush upright in a holder where it can air dry completely. This helps kill bacteria that thrive in moisture. (You’re better off keeping your toothbrush open to the air than using a toothbrush clip or enclosing it somewhere where bacteria can multiply).
3. Mind the Toilet
Store your toothbrush as far from the toilet as possible and close the toilet lid before flushing to avoid contamination from fecal bacteria, which can become aerosolized in the hot, humid environment of the bathroom (especially after showers). Consider keeping your toothbrush away from the sink as well to prevent splashes from dirty hands.
4. Clean Your Toothbrush Carefully
- Rinse your toothbrush with hot water before and after brushing.
- Consider soaking in an antiseptic mouthwash every so often. If you don’t want to throw your toothbrush out after illness, and assuming its bristles still have life left in them, you can try this method. (Studies have shown that soaking your toothbrush in antiseptic mouthwash, like Listerine, for 20 minutes is 100% effective at killing microorganisms on your toothbrush).
- UV toothbrush sanitizers, white vinegar, and denture cleaner are effective alternatives to sanitize toothbrushes if you don’t keep antiseptic mouthwash on hand.
These same tips apply to electric toothbrush heads.
Stay Healthy with The Super Dentists
Keep your child’s smile healthy and bright! Stay on top of your family’s oral health by scheduling your next dental check-up with The Super Dentists today.