When Should You Change Your Toothbrush?

How long does a toothbrush last? How long should you use a toothbrush before discarding it? When does it become unhygienic to keep using the same brush?

 

Learn about when to swap your toothbrush for a fresh one and why you should regularly switch yours here with Aquafresh.

 

Types of Toothbrushes & When to Change Them

Should kids’ toothbrushes be changed more often than an adult’s? Do electric toothbrush heads need replacing more or less often than manual ones? Let’s find out…

Adult Toothbrushes

Dentists recommend that manual adult toothbrushes be changed at least every three months. This is because the bristles become worn with regular use and lose effectiveness. If your brush’s bristles start to tilt to the side within less than three months, you should change it then.

 

After three months, it’s possible that toothbrush’s bristles can be worn or broken, even if you can’t see any damage. Broken bristles may harbour fungi and bacteria that can cause oral health problems.

 

Electric toothbrush heads are slightly different and may be used for up to six months.

 

With any type of adult toothbrush, it’s best to get a new one if you’re dealing with gum disease or a tooth infection; and change it again once you’re better to prevent the infection from returning. A general guideline is to change your brush every six weeks when dealing with an oral health condition.¹

Kids’ Toothbrushes

Same as adults, kids’ brushes should be changed every three months, by which point the brush won’t effectively clean your child’s teeth anymore. Similarly, if your child uses a kids’ electric toothbrush, it’s okay to use each brush head for up to six months unless the bristles become splayed and need replacing sooner.¹

 

Find out more about children’s tooth care with Aquafresh.

 

Toothbrush Care

Important things to remember about taking care of your toothbrush include:²

• Rinse your toothbrush after use. Thoroughly rinsing your brush with warm water after each use helps wash away leftover toothpaste, food particles and germs. After rinsing until it’s clean, store it upright and let it air dry.
• Don’t share your toothbrush. Even after rinsing, toothbrushes can harbour germs and bacteria which can transfer from mouth to mouth if they are shared. This can lead to infections.
• Don’t store your brush in a container. Storing your toothbrush in a closed container prevents it from drying and can breed bacteria, which could cause infection.
• Change your toothbrush every 3 months. Or as soon as you see the bristles starting to wear or brush head losing its shape.¹

 

Refresh Your Toothbrush with Aquafresh

Time to change your toothbrush? Go and check yours for worn and tilted bristles now. If you can’t remember when you last changed it, it’s time for a new one.

 

Make sure you’re using the right kind for your needs, and children are using the correct type for their age. Browse Aquafresh’s range of kids’ and adult toothbrushes to find new brushes for the whole family.