When is it time to change my Toothbrush?

Many people ask questions about how often they ought to brush and visit the dentist but very few ask: How often do I change my toothbrush?
It may appear as a trivial one as compared to the others but you might have to rethink that once you are done reading this article. In a developed country like America, people change their toothbrush maximum twice a year. Now imagine if with all our awareness this is the best we can do, what sort of an approach people living in third world countries have towards something like this.

Dentists usually recommend that toothbrushes should be replaced once in three to four weeks or to rephrase, to change them four times a year. Changing of toothbrush is also suggested in cases where the user spots the bristles starting to wear out. Also after suffering from cold or flu, it is best to change your toothbrush so any trace of the virus still growing in there may not cause any harm.

An article printed in the New York Times health section recommends that waiting for 3-4 weeks is a long time to change your toothbrush. Placed under a microscope, you may find communities of harmful organisms living in your toothbrush by that time. These organisms include Streptococcus, staphylococcus, influenza and herpes simplex organisms. The water and food particles left in the toothbrush after brushing your teeth provide breeding ground and nutrition for these viruses and bacteria. It is much more advisable to do so every two weeks. This is specially true for people that are recovering from a recent bout of flu or cold as there are chances they may get the infection back again. It was also stated that toothbrushes with electric or motorized heads attract more germs and can have a negative impact on the gums. Using manual toothbrushes are better specially ones with clear heads as the light passing through them can kill the bacteria.

Here are some tips to make it easier for you to judge when is the right time to change your toothbrush:

• Finding the bristles of your toothbrush bending means it’s time to go out and buy a new one.
• Buy a UV toothbrush cleaner. It is most effectual and costs only £10.00 in most cases. It has the added benefit of shutting off automatically when its work is done.
• Store your toothbrush in a 3% Hydrogen Peroxide solution to keep it safe from getting any bacterial or viral communities thriving in it. However, make sure you change the solution every day as it tends to loose its effectiveness after 24 hours.
• Stir the bristles in some alcohol containing mouthwash like Listerine for ten seconds. The alcohol will serve to kill most of the bacteria.
• In case of a contagious sickness, throw away the patient’s toothbrush along with any that has come into contact with it. The sickness may be transferred to other members of the family otherwise.

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