Jul
5
Thorough brushing of your teeth takes roughly 2 minutes. This should be done at least twice a day to help prevent cavities, gum disease, bad breath and to protect your overall oral health!
However, there is more, you may be missing out on a huge part of dental care if you are not replacing your toothbrush often enough. Here are 5 very important reasons as to why you need to change your toothbrush frequently:
1. Your Toothbrush Could Be Housing Bacteria
Your toothbrush helps to tackle a build-up of plaque and bacteria which can lead to bad breath, tooth decay, and cause gum disease. But over time, this same toothbrush can become home to many germs and bacteria. This is why it is important to rinse and disinfect your toothbrush with a mouthwash after use. However, it is ideal to change them at least every 3 months.
2. Can Cause Gum Recession
Gum recession can be exacerbated by brushing your teeth with bristles that are worn out. This is because worn-out bristles can be more abrasive which leads to the risk of damaging soft tissue and causing excess enamel abrasion.
Several other factors can lead to gum recession which include non-effective brushing, or brushing too hard. It is important to make sure you follow correct dental care to avoid further gum recession; gum tissue will not regrow once lost.
All is not lost, If you suffer from a more serious case of gum recession, our in-house periodontal specialist can help you choose the right treatment.
3. Avoid Reinfection After A Sickness
If you have had illnesses like cold or flu, the bacteria from the mouth makes its way onto the toothbrush when brushing your teeth. This is why it’s important to disinfect or replace your toothbrush even sooner if you recently became ill.
4. No Longer Fit For Purpose
Over time, the bristles begin to lose their stiffness; making it harder for them to combat food and plaque – making them effectively useless. If you’re not brushing your teeth well due to a bad toothbrush, plaque can begin to build up leading to gum disease. You may notice your gums beginning to bleed, gum recession and you may even start to lose your teeth. If you brush with a heavy hand, your toothbrush may wear even sooner.
In severe cases, this can even result in enamel erosion, which might make you wonder, ‘Why are my teeth see-through?’.
5. If You Brush Your Teeth Frequently
You might be one of those people who brushes more frequently for various reasons, such as being extra vigilant about brushing, brushing after each meal, or after eating a sugary snack. Whatever the reason, frequent brushing means that the bristles on the toothbrush deteriorate more rapidly and so the toothbrush needs to be changed more frequently.
In addition, you may also have an aggressive brushing technique which can wear the bristles even quicker.
Aggressive brushing is also very damaging to your enamel and can cause your gums to recede – both of which are irreversible. Sometimes you may not be aware you are doing this, that is why electric toothbrushes are great! They include pressure sensors that encourage gentle brushing.
If you experience severe symptoms or damage, it’s essential to know what is considered a dental emergency and seek immediate care.
Final Oral Health Tips
- Change your toothbrush once every 12 to 16 weeks.
- Disinfect the toothbrush by washing it in hot water, mouthwash, or denture cleanser after use.
- Switch over to an electric toothbrush if you’re guilty of aggressive brushing.
- Ensure you regularly attend oral hygiene checkups, especially if you notice symptoms such as bleeding gums or bad breath.
- Gum recession cannot be reversed but some treatments can help you restore your gums and smile.
