How Often Should You Change Your Toothbrush? (2024)

FAQs

How Often Should You Change Your Toothbrush? ›

“The average person should be swapping out for a new toothbrush every three to four months,” explains Dr. Sienna Palmer, DDS, dentist at Meridien Dental in Santa Monica, CA. “This is recommended to ensure that the bristles are still effective and bacteria accumulation on the toothbrush is minimal.”

The bottom line: It is strongly recommended that you change your toothbrush or toothbrush head every three months, when the bristles are worn or frayed, or if you become ill. Rinsing in hot water and sanitizing in mouthwash is also a good idea.

It affects its ability to remove food particles and bacteria effectively. These can lead to tooth decay, cavities, bad breath, and gum diseases. Dentists recommend we replace toothbrush every 3 to 4 months will minimize the risks of these dental conditions.

If you're hoping to maintain the integrity of your oral health, though, it's important to replace your toothbrush frequently. The American Dental Association recommends replacing toothbrushes every three months. It's around this time that bristles begin to break down and become less effective at cleaning your teeth.

Whether you're using a manual or electric toothbrush, you need to thoroughly rinse the brush head with tap water after every use. This removes most of the food particles, plaque, and bacteria. To remove even the few germs or debris that might remain after rinsing, disinfect your toothbrush at least once a week.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you should replace a manual toothbrush every three to four months. If you use your brush for much longer than that, the bristles will start to become frayed and worn, and they won't be as effective at clearing away plaque.

After even longer without brushing or flossing your teeth, tooth decay can advance into the inner layers of your teeth, causing more enamel to be broken down and exposing the soft parts (the dentin). The tooth pulp can also become exposed, which can lead to a higher risk for tooth pain and sensitivity.

To prevent plaque build-up and gum disease, you need to floss daily, at least once a day. If you were rushing to brush your teeth after an earlier meal, flossing during your next brush allows you to remove the hard-to-reach plaque, bacteria and food particles.

Absolutely! Using an electric toothbrush every day is generally recommended and can be beneficial for maintaining good oral hygiene. The consistent use of an electric toothbrush helps remove plaque effectively, reaches difficult-to-reach areas, and promotes better overall cleaning compared to manual brushing.

When oral hygiene is neglected, plaque buildup occurs. This leads to weakened tooth structure and cavities as well as inflamed gums. Excessive plaque buildup can take a while, and a cavity will not appear after one missed brushing and flossing session.

Do you brush for 2 minutes everyday? ›

Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste for at least two minutes each time you brush. This recommendation is from the American Dental Association. When you brush, you help take food and plaque off your teeth. Plaque is a sticky white film that forms on teeth.

You should replace your toothbrush at least every three months, according to Kelman. But for some, especially people who brush their teeth a bit aggressively, you'll need a new one even sooner, she adds. “When in doubt, you need to look at the bristles,” says Kelman.

An investment in your oral health

While electric toothbrushes come at a higher price point than manual brushes, they are an investment that can help maintain good oral health in the long term. It's also worth remembering that you only need to replace the brush heads regularly, not the entire electric toothbrush.

It is recommended that you change your toothbrush or electric toothbrush head every three months or after you have been sick to avoid the spread of germs. However, cleaning your toothbrush regularly can remove other harmful bacteria that can potentially jeopardize your oral health.

Streptococcus mutans – a harmful bacteria that is responsible for MRSA infections and tooth decay – can be found on toothbrushes, and could lead to severe illness. Even worse, when you share a toothbrush, the amount of bacteria found on it increases with every use, and you're more likely to pick up a harmful infection.

[6] Listerine killed all the microorganisms on the toothbrush bristles. Caudry et al. had suggested that soaking the toothbrush bristles in Listerine for 20 minutes prevents bacterial contamination.

My dentist said every 3 to 4 months is fine. He said most people put too much pressure on their teeth when brushing, which is why the bristles wear down so quickly.

As a general rule, you should replace your toothbrush or toothbrush head every 3 to 4 months. You should also throw away your toothbrush in each of the following circ*mstances: The bristles are worn out. If the bristles appear bent or frayed, your toothbrush can't clean your teeth as effectively.

Replace toothbrushes every 3 to 4 months. Consider getting a new toothbrush sooner if you have been sick, especially if the toothbrush is stored close to other toothbrushes. When in doubt, look at the bristles. If they are frayed, they won't clean teeth as thoroughly.

Dentists recommend replacing toothbrush head every 3 months, as the bristles become frayed and worn with use which reduces the cleaning effectiveness of the toothbrush. Many Oral-B brush heads refills feature indicator bristles that fade halfway to help remind you when to replace your toothbrush head.