Taking care of your toothbrush

You’re taking care of your oral hygiene, brushing, flossing, brushing or scraping your tongue and following up with a mouthwash, but do you consider the hygienic conditions of your main tool – your toothbrush? As you rely on your toothbrush to maintain your oral health, then it makes sense that you pay attention to the care and maintenance of that toothbrush.

Following are some simple recommendations for toothbrush care:

• Replace your toothbrush about every 3-4 months or sooner if the bristles become frayed (as they will be less effective).
• Brush gently – think ‘massaging’ rather than ‘scrubbing’. This will benefit your teeth and gums as well as your toothbrush.
• After brushing, ensure that you thoroughly rinse away any remaining toothpaste and debris from your toothbrush.
• Store your toothbrush in an upright position to allow it to air dry.
• Avoid regularly covering or storing it in a closed container, as this will encourage the growth of microorganisms.
• Never share toothbrushes as it risks the exchange of infections and/or disease. Also keep toothbrushes separated if stored in the same container to prevent cross-contamination.

N.B: If you’re finding that you need to replace your frayed toothbrush much sooner than the recommended 3-4 months, you could be too heavy handed with your brushing. This can be damaging to your teeth and harmful for your gums. As a general rule, it is advised that the toothbrush of choice is one with soft bristles, used with light to medium pressure. Soft bristles flex more allowing them to get in and around the various crevices, while hard bristles can wear down the surface of the teeth.

If you feel that you need to brush up on your oral hygiene please call our team at Moss Vale Dental on 02 4869 3111 to make an appointment with one of our highly experienced dentists.