Teeth Cleaning 

Teeth brushing – replace your Toothbrush now with one of these professional brushes.

Did you know using a toothbrush that is more than three months old could be doing you more harm than good to your oral heath? 

Everyone regardless of age, including children, should replace their toothbrush every two to three months because over time the bristles will break down and become ineffective and even damaging to your gums and teeth.

For a toothbrush to clean your teeth and do the most good all the bristles need to be standing straight up.

If they are starting to look frayed and flare outwards it is time to throw the old toothbrush out and replace it with a new one.   If you are in doubt about the actual age of your toothbrush, then I would pretty much count on the fact that it should be thrown out!

Also if you or anyone in the family has just recovered from a cold or flu, a cold sore, or a sore throat, it is a really good idea to ditch your toothbrush, even if it is relatively new to avoid re-infection.

To maintain your toothbrush in the most hygienic condition always thoroughly rinse it each time after use because bad bacteria can grow on the bristles, especially if food particles remain caught there.

It takes less than a minute to rinse a toothbrush properly to ensure it is totally and hygienically clean.

Allowing even very young children to rinse their own toothbrush is a good habit to teach them.  While they are doing it you could remind them that the toothbrushes job is to remove food particles and plaque from their teeth. 

Show them that sometimes the particles that are removed, stick between the bristles and therefore need to be rinsed away, along with any excess toothpaste and foam.

A few people I know actually stick their toothbrushes in the dishwasher or the microwave oven using them as a toothbrush sanitizer.

This is not an effective way to clean your good old Colgate toothbrush.

I seriously do not recommend you do this as these treatments are far too harsh for most toothbrushes and will damage them.

After your toothbrush is rinsed well, it needs only to be air dried to prevent the conditions for bacteria to grow. A toothbrush should always be stored upright in an open container.

Never lie your toothbrush down inside a drawer or enclose it inside a case or other type of airtight container because without proper air circulation any moisture left in the bristles will provide the perfect environment for bad bacteria to grow.

Quite incorrectly, most families and people who share bathrooms tend to make a habit of storing everyone’s toothbrush’s together.

This situation increases the possibility of cross-contamination if the heads of the toothbrushes come in contact with each other. 

As a matter of hygiene it should go without saying, for quality dental care it is never wise to share your toothbrush with anyone.

Contrary to popular belief and clever advertising, scientific research shows toothbrush sanitizers and mouth rinses with antibacterial agents do not offer any better protection than good cleaning and dental hygiene habits.

Proper toothbrush care is the right path to effective and gentle dental care!