Whenever you visit any dentist, one common piece of advice you will always receive is to brush your teeth twice to maintain oral hygiene. Around 90 percent of us follow this religiously for a week. Maybe because of fear of dental instruments, scary noise of the dental drill, and of course the surprise dental expenses experienced recently, but as the memory of the dental office fades, the instruction slowly evaporates. In the morning, snoozing the alarm repetitively with a desire to sleep for a few more minutes, waking up late, rushing for morning chores. In all these hassles what remains underrated is tooth cleaning.  Slow down a little, brush your teeth in circular motion sweeping away all the germs and look at your humble cleaning instrument for a moment. Ask a few questions on Beyond Brushing twice a day to yourself.

  • How old is your toothbrush?
  • When was the last time you purchased a new toothbrush?
  • Are the bristles in good condition?
  • How often should I replace my toothbrush?

 

Now, the ADA (American Dental Association) says to replace the toothbrush every 3 months. But Do you need to wait for 3 months to get the new one? The answer is, it depends on person to person. Here are a few simple points to remember:

  • Examine Yourself-Invert your toothbrush and place the wet bristles on a flat surface. If all the bristles touch the ground, you are good to go. If the bristles move away from the center, it’s time to switch.
  • This one is very important. If you recently recovered from the flu, viral fever, sore throat or cold, replace your toothbrush immediately. The reason is simple causative agents might still be present on the surface.       
  • Some toothbrushes have color-changing bristles. Once they are worn out, they change the color of the bristle indicating to buy a new one.

 

Do you know, research says that more than 10 million bacteria live on a toothbrush. A toothbrush is a breeding source of many microbes. Therefore, cleaning the toothbrush is equally important as cleaning the teeth. Immersing the toothbrush in plain tap water and placing them in a closed dry area away from the contact of any other brushes is the best way. Next time, when you hold your toothbrush, remember to give it a quick check and take proper care of it. Happy twice a day Teeth Brushing.