Tips to Looking After Your Toothbrush

As much as you rely on your toothbrush to look after your teeth and gums, you need to look after your toothbrush, ensuring it does the best job it is designed to do. Dr Tariq Drabu, a leading dentist and specialist oral surgeon based in the United Kingdom, advised that your toothbrush is the most important tool to promote healthy teeth and gums and ensure outstanding oral health at all times.

Taking care of your toothbrush doesn’t have to be a difficult and daunting task, if you know how to go about it and follow the easy to follow steps. By ensuring you take good care of your toothbrush, you can rest assured that whether you own a manual or an electric toothbrush, it is going to be working hard for you.

Not everyone is aware that the microorganisms caused by cavities in your teeth can be transferred to your toothbrush. This is why if you are suffering with oral disease of any kind, you will want to change your toothbrush more often than if you have perfect oral health, ensuring that any bacteria isn’t transferred.

This is another reason why you should never share your toothbrush with anyone else. While it may be tempting when staying over at a friend to use their toothbrush in the event you left yours at home. If they have any oral disease, you can end up with the same disease by simply making the mistake of sharing your toothbrush.

In order to ensure the best oral care, always rinse your toothbrush thoroughly before and after use. This removes any remaining toothpaste and debris, ensuring that the toothbrush is clean and ready for use the next time you brush your teeth. Rinsing before use, ensures any dirt or debris is carefully removed before you put the brush in your mouth, reducing the risk of infection.

Further, it is important that you always store your toothbrush in an upright potion to air dry. If you share a holder with other members in the home, ensure the brushes don’t touch while upright and drying, this will reduce the risk of cross contamination and sharing infections or illnesses.

If you are travelling, don’t keep your toothbrush in a sealed container for too long, ensure you allow it to dry and air as much as possible. If you need to close your toothbrush in a sealed container, take it out as soon as you arrive at your destination. Keeping the toothbrush sealed is only going to be a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria.

A toothbrush isn’t for life, you need to make a mental note and change your toothbrush every three to four months. If the toothbrush appears frayed, then it is time to make a change. Some people go through toothbrushes faster than others. Some will rely on a time scale so they know when it’s time to buy a new brush, others will wear theirs down, that they are frayed and tired and in desperate need of replacement.

If you suffer from any form of gum disease, then ensure you replace your toothbrush on a more regular basis to reduce the risk of the infection being reintroduced on a daily basis.

Dr Tariq Drbu also advised that in addition to caring for your toothbrush, you should ensure you visit your dentist on a regular basis and that you brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Always pay close attention to your teeth and any signs of infection, visit your dentist to have it checked and a treatment plan put in place