By Ladawn Brock, Texas A&M University — MedicalXPress, Tuesday 17 May 2022
The toothbrush is the most basic tool for maintaining healthy teeth, but many people give their toothbrush little thought and don’t know when to swap it out for a new one. Assistant Professor Jane Cotter, RDH, MS, CTTS, of The Caruth School of Dental Hygiene at Texas A&M University’s College of Dentistry, answers some common questions.
How often should a toothbrush be replaced? “The American Dental Association recommends that toothbrushes need to be replaced every three months. Toothbrushes used longer than three months can become frayed and may damage the gingiva (gums),” Cotter said. This timeline applies to both manual and electric toothbrush heads. If the bristles are fraying or spreading out, the brush needs to be replaced sooner. Some toothbrushes have bristles that change colour over time to indicate when they need replacing. Toothbrushes should also be replaced if someone has been sick — viruses including cold, flu and the coronavirus thrive in a moist environment and can spread through physical contact.
What is the best toothbrush to use? “Research has consistently shown that electric toothbrushes clean better than manual toothbrushes,” Cotter said. Most electric toothbrushes have a two-minute timer that beeps or pulses every 30 seconds to alert the user to move to a different area of the mouth. Some also have an app showing where brushing is being missed. As for bristle firmness, some people prefer a hard-bristled toothbrush to clean teeth, but dental professionals don’t typically recommend them. Firm or hard toothbrushes can actually damage tooth enamel, so it is better to go with a soft bristle toothbrush. “It is important to store your toothbrush in a vertical, upright position in the open air so that it will dry out between uses,” Cotter said. “This helps control bacterial and fungal growth on the bristles.”