Tuesday 2 June 2009

Why Do You Need To Regularly Change Your Toothbrush?

Simple

The newer the toothbrush the more effective it is at removing plaque and tartar.

You should change your toothbrush around every three months, this is because after a while the bristles deteriorate, therefore they will not clean your teeth as well as expected and if badly worn will be rough against your gums and potentially cause them to bleed, which as we know can lead to gum disease. You need to regularly inspect your toothbrush, if you notice the bristles are worn it will need replacing as soon as possible, whether you have had it less than three months or not. Toothbrushes with worn tissues are more prone to germ and bacteria build ups.

If you a heavy or rough brusher, the bristles will wear out a lot quicker compared to someone who takes there time brushing there teeth. This can also be said for children who may have a uneven brushing technique.

In summary purchase the correct type of toothbrush that is suitable for you, hard or soft bristled, look after it by cleaning, rinsing and storing correctly, inspect for bristle damage and then replace it. I know replacing toothbrushes costs money, although relatively inexpensive but if you think in comparison to what it may cost to go to the dentists to have dental work or teeth cleaning, I believe toothbrushes are a worthwhile investment.

Why Look After Your Toothbrush?

teeth Pictures, Images and Photos

We all know or should do that it is very important to take care of your teeth, but why do we need to look after our toothbrush?

Your toothbrush needs to be cleaned and stored correctly otherwise it will have a negative effect on your teeth cleaning routine. An uncared for toothbrush may cause your teeth more harm than good if the bacteria that can grow on it builds up, no matter how many times you brush your teeth.

When you have finished brushing your teeth, always wash and rinse it under the tap, this is to ensure you remove any bacteria, any food that may of been stuck in-between your teeth and any remaining toothpaste. This needs to be done each time, whether that be two or three times a day.

Store your toothbrush in an upright position, some people have may have a pacific toothbrush holder or you could use an unused cup or beaker as the holder. Your toothbrush needs to dry naturally, so it needs to be kept in a well ventilated area. You should not cover it over until it has fully dried, if covered over before drying bacteria may grow due to the moisture remaining on the toothbrush.

Relating to toothbrush storage, make sure if your brush is shared with others, that they are not touching and kept in separate compartments. This will then eradicate the contaminating of each others toothbrushes therefore leading to healthier teeth and gums for the whole family.

The positives of looking after your toothbrush are that you are preventing against bacteria build up, the brush head itself will be in better condition, therefore it will clean your teeth more efficiently than say and old uncared for toothbrush, and it will last longer. If you do not look after your toothbrush, it could only last for a few weeks, whereas a well looked after and hygienic brush will easily last up to three months which is the recommended time to then replace it.

It is simple take care of your teeth, and your toothbrush.