Do You Need A New Toothbrush?

When did you last replace your toothbrush? Was it more than 3 months ago? If so, you need to invest in a replacement. Researchers at the University of Manchester found that “the average toothbrush can contain 10 million or more bacteria” including e.coli and staph. Ew! The research article reports that their study highlights the importance of properly rinsing and storing one’s toothbrush. And, of equal importance is replacing it at the proper interval. The article quote American Dental Association spokesperson and dentist Dr. Maria Lopez Howell, who explained that you should rinse your brush thoroughly after each use and replace it when the bristles become frayed – or after 3 months of use. You should store your brush in an upright position and allow it to air dry thoroughly between brushings.

Do you need a reminder to change out your toothbrush intermittently? A startup company called “Quip” has raised funding for its business, which will ship a subscriber a new toothbrush every 3 months. TechCrunch reports that although it “sounds sort of crazy”, if people consider when they actually replaced their toothbrush, they might need this sort of reminder.

Your Bearable Dentistry dental hygienist is a great source for advice on which kind of toothbrush is right for you. The hygienist can give you tips on how to most effectively clean your teeth too. We always offer patients a new Bearable Dentistry toothbrush at each visit. Don’t forget to brush, floss and change out that toothbrush!