Realistically, How Often Should You Change Your Toothbrush? (2024)

FAQs

Realistically, How Often Should You Change Your Toothbrush? ›

Even if your toothbrush and the bristles looks normal, the CDC still recommends replacing your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months. And by the way, if your toothbrush still looks as healthy on week 12 as it did when you first started using it, you may not be brushing your teeth properly or frequently enough.

“The average person should be swapping out for a new toothbrush every three to four months,” explains Dr. Sienna Palmer, DDS, dentist at Meridien Dental in Santa Monica, CA. “This is recommended to ensure that the bristles are still effective and bacteria accumulation on the toothbrush is minimal.”

Therefore, tooth brushing twice daily is recommended by most of the dentists in order to improve plaque control. This rule is followed by most of the patients taking care for their oral health and has shown to be effective in maintenance of oral health in numerous studies.

However, the lifespan of a brush depends on its quality, texture, and type of your hair and the products and hair treatments in use. High-quality brushes may last for 12 months, while low-quality brushes serve you for less than three months. Regular cleaning plays a role in determining how long your brush will last.

The time required for toothbrush bristle wear is highly variable among individuals. Clients should be advised to replace toothbrushes every 3 months.

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), it's recommended to replace your toothbrush (or brush head on an electric toothbrush) every three months – that's right, toothbrushes have a shelf life of only three months. The longer you use a toothbrush, the less effective it is.

Changing your toothbrush more often will help you prevent oral-related bacterial and fungal infections. Over time, the brush bristles become uneven due to the friction and pressure of brushing the teeth. The rutted bristles scrape away gum tissues causing the enamel to wear out.

The brushing method recommended to general persons in Korea is the 3-3-3 brushing method campaign, which involves only toothbrushing behavior (the time and frequency); 3-3-3 means brushing one's teeth 3 times per day, within 3 minutes after having a meal, for at least 3 minutes each time.

Health experts often warn against drinking water or consuming any liquid or solid right after brushing teeth. Reportedly, drinking water after brushing your teeth reduces the efficacy of your toothpaste. It is recommended to wait for at least 15-20 minutes before you drink or eat anything.

Don't rinse with water straight after toothbrushing

After brushing, spit out any excess toothpaste. Don't rinse your mouth immediately after brushing, as it'll wash away the concentrated fluoride in the remaining toothpaste. Rinsing dilutes it and reduces its preventative effects.

How long should a hairbrush last? ›

“For someone who blowdries daily using their brush, they will need to replace it as early as six months. For those that blowdry less often with their brush, they can expect a minimum of a year before replacement of their brush.” You may be wondering why replacing your hairbrush is even necessary.

Average Lifespan

These brushes should last you 2-3 years with proper care. Polyester Brushes – Ideally used with latex paint, these brushes will retain their stiffness and shape with almost every paint and will apply evenly and smoothly. With regular maintenance, these brushes should last 6 months to a year.

American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months. This can be different for each person.

The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) also advises to replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months, or whenever it appears to be getting worn out. Once the bristles in your toothbrush start to lose their stiffness, the toothbrush is almost ready for the trash.

Manufacturers advise that electric toothbrushes need to be replaced every three to five years.

According to experts, you should be swapping your toothbrush out every three months. If you're brushing your teeth as often as you should be (twice a day for two minutes, at a minimum!), your toothbrush will get subjected to quite a bit of wear and tear over the course of a few months.

Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Clean between your teeth daily using floss or interdental brushes. Eat a healthy, balanced diet and limit added sugar intake. Visit the dentist regularly for check-ups and preventative care.

So, how often should we actually change our toothbrush? “Both manual toothbrushes and electric brush heads should be replaced every three months, and/or after each time you're sick (whichever comes first),” says Whitney DiFoggio, R.D.H. (registered dental hygienist).

A regular, manual toothbrush should be replaced every three to four months. This is because the bristles on the toothbrush usually become worn down in that amount of time.