How Often Should You Really Change Your Toothbrush

Brushing your teeth twice daily is one of the simple and effective dental hygiene steps you should do. Dr. Nathaniel Chan explains how often to replace your toothbrush.

Of course, to brush your teeth you need a toothbrush.

If we use our toothbrush at least twice a day, then it’s going to need to be changed out.

So, how often should you change your toothbrush?

Let’s take a close look at the answer to “how often should I change my toothbrush?”

Manual Brush: How Often to Change Toothbrush

If you have a manual toothbrush, then you should consider replacing it every 3 or 4 months. This is the timing that the CDC recommends.

Why might you want to change your toothbrush this often?

Over time, daily use may wear on a toothbrush. You may notice that the bristles are weaker, or even sprawled out.

A toothbrush with weak or bent bristles may not be as effective. This means it may not clean your teeth as well, and it may leave plaque behind.

How often to change the toothbrush is not based only on timing. You should pay close attention to the condition of the toothbrush, and consider changing it out whenever the bristles are damaged. Furthermore, you should consider getting a new toothbrush if someone in the household gets sick.

Electric Brush: How Often to Replace the Toothbrush 

What if you have an electric toothbrush? Then how often should you replace your toothbrush?

The recommendation is roughly the same. You should consider changing out the toothbrush head every 12 weeks.

Bristles on an electric toothbrush are often shorter, which means they may get worn quicker. You may need to replace the toothbrush head even sooner, depending on their condition.

Family Dentist in Norwell, MA

If you heard that 3 months is the answer for how often to replace a toothbrush, then you heard right! If you use your toothbrush twice a day, then after three months you’ll have used it about 180 times. After this many uses, it’s likely to get worn down and may be less effective.

Get helpful dental advice and quality dental care around with our family dentist in Norwell. Dr. Nathaniel Chan and the team at Advanced Dental Arts are here to help you keep your whole family’s teeth healthy. Book your appointment today with our family dentist in Norwell!