Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhen to ChangeSigns Requiring ChangeRisks of Not Changing
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
When to Change
Signs Requiring Change
Risks of Not Changing
We all know we should be brushing our teeth twice per day but how often do you really need to change your toothbrush?
Most oral healthcare providers recommend changing your brush every three to four months. This time frame can vary based on your type of toothbrush and your toothbrushing technique.
Regular brushing with a good quality toothbrush is an important way to prevent and treatgingivitis, the earliest stage of periodontal disease. It’s estimated that about 80% of adults in the United States have gingivitis.
This article discusses how often you should change your toothbrush, why, and what happens when you don’t.
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When to Change or Replace Your Toothbrush
Brushing your teeth is a quick and simple way to support youroral health, removeplaqueand soft debris, and lower the risk ofgum disease. Over time, a toothbrush can become contaminated with bacteria, debris, blood, and saliva. For your toothbrush to be as effective as possible, it needs to have quality bristles that have not been worn down.
Toothbrushes lose their effectiveness over time, and when the bristles start to splay (spread out), they are not able to adequately remove plaque from teeth. Experts recommend replacing your manual toothbrush every three to four months.However, it’s more important to pay attention to your toothbrush’s signs of wear as opposed to how old it is.
Regular Toothbrush
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.
Research shows that the quality of a toothbrush’s bristles depends more on one’s brushing technique than on how old the toothbrush is.
Electric Toothbrush
Most electric toothbrush heads should be replaced every three months.If your brush shows signs of wear, change it out sooner.
The Best Toothbrushes
It’s common to wonder if you shouldreplace your toothbrushafter being sick witha cold,the flu, orCOVID-19. While it’s true that toothbrushes can contain germs, most people do not need to worry about getting a new toothbrush after being sick.Unless you have acompromised immune system, the germs from your toothbrush should not reinfect you with an illness.This is even true for bacterial infections likestrep throat.
It’s common to wonder if you shouldreplace your toothbrushafter being sick witha cold,the flu, orCOVID-19. While it’s true that toothbrushes can contain germs, most people do not need to worry about getting a new toothbrush after being sick.
Unless you have acompromised immune system, the germs from your toothbrush should not reinfect you with an illness.This is even true for bacterial infections likestrep throat.
Signs Your Toothbrush Needs an Update
It is important to inspect your toothbrush every few months. This can help you determine when to replace it.
Research shows that the physical signs of wear on a toothbrush are more important than the age when determining how often to replace it. People who press down hard whenbrushing their teethmay need to replace their toothbrushes sooner than those who press softly.
Signs that your toothbrush needs to be replaced include:
Experts recommend brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day and choosing a toothbrush with soft bristles. To keep your teeth healthy, besides brushing:Floss once a day.Limit candy, soda, and other sugary foods and drinks.See a dentist regularly.
Experts recommend brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day and choosing a toothbrush with soft bristles. To keep your teeth healthy, besides brushing:
Possible Risks of Not Changing Your Toothbrush
When a toothbrush shows signs of wear, it must be replaced immediately. Bristles that are too soft or splayed out cannot effectively remove plaque and soft debris from the teeth. Over time, plaque and debris build up, leading to tooth decay, gingivitis, and other oral health problems.
In addition to changing your toothbrush every three to four months, other ways to take care of it include:
Summary
How often should you change your toothbrush? Most healthcare providers recommend replacing your toothbrush every three to four months. This recommendation can vary based on your type of toothbrush and your toothbrushing technique.
Electric toothbrush heads should be replaced about every three months. Their bristles are shorter than those on a regular toothbrush and can become worn down more quickly. Signs that it’s time to replace your toothbrush include bristles splayed out, permanently curved, or very soft to the touch.
Risks of not replacing your toothbrush regularly include tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems that can occur when plaque and debris build up on the teeth.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ccahuana-Vasquez RA, Adam R, Conde E, et al.A 5-week randomized clinical evaluation of a novel electric toothbrush head with regular and tapered bristles versus a manual toothbrush for reduction of gingivitis and plaque.Int J Dent Hyg. 2019;17(2):153-160. doi:10.1111/idh.12372American Dental Association.Toothbrushes.Van Leeuwen MPC, Van der Weijden FA, Slot DE, Rosema MAM.Toothbrush wear in relation to toothbrushing effectiveness.Int J Dent Hyg. 2019;17(1):77-84. doi:10.1111/idh.12370Delta Dental.How to: Change electric toothbrush heads.The Dental College of Georgia.Do you really need to toss your toothbrush after the flu?.American Dental Association.Cold and flu season.American Academy of Pediatrics.Don’t be quick to toss your toothbrush after a sore throat.American Dental Association.Brushing your teeth.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Use & handling of toothbrushes.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ccahuana-Vasquez RA, Adam R, Conde E, et al.A 5-week randomized clinical evaluation of a novel electric toothbrush head with regular and tapered bristles versus a manual toothbrush for reduction of gingivitis and plaque.Int J Dent Hyg. 2019;17(2):153-160. doi:10.1111/idh.12372American Dental Association.Toothbrushes.Van Leeuwen MPC, Van der Weijden FA, Slot DE, Rosema MAM.Toothbrush wear in relation to toothbrushing effectiveness.Int J Dent Hyg. 2019;17(1):77-84. doi:10.1111/idh.12370Delta Dental.How to: Change electric toothbrush heads.The Dental College of Georgia.Do you really need to toss your toothbrush after the flu?.American Dental Association.Cold and flu season.American Academy of Pediatrics.Don’t be quick to toss your toothbrush after a sore throat.American Dental Association.Brushing your teeth.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Use & handling of toothbrushes.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Ccahuana-Vasquez RA, Adam R, Conde E, et al.A 5-week randomized clinical evaluation of a novel electric toothbrush head with regular and tapered bristles versus a manual toothbrush for reduction of gingivitis and plaque.Int J Dent Hyg. 2019;17(2):153-160. doi:10.1111/idh.12372American Dental Association.Toothbrushes.Van Leeuwen MPC, Van der Weijden FA, Slot DE, Rosema MAM.Toothbrush wear in relation to toothbrushing effectiveness.Int J Dent Hyg. 2019;17(1):77-84. doi:10.1111/idh.12370Delta Dental.How to: Change electric toothbrush heads.The Dental College of Georgia.Do you really need to toss your toothbrush after the flu?.American Dental Association.Cold and flu season.American Academy of Pediatrics.Don’t be quick to toss your toothbrush after a sore throat.American Dental Association.Brushing your teeth.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Use & handling of toothbrushes.
Ccahuana-Vasquez RA, Adam R, Conde E, et al.A 5-week randomized clinical evaluation of a novel electric toothbrush head with regular and tapered bristles versus a manual toothbrush for reduction of gingivitis and plaque.Int J Dent Hyg. 2019;17(2):153-160. doi:10.1111/idh.12372
American Dental Association.Toothbrushes.
Van Leeuwen MPC, Van der Weijden FA, Slot DE, Rosema MAM.Toothbrush wear in relation to toothbrushing effectiveness.Int J Dent Hyg. 2019;17(1):77-84. doi:10.1111/idh.12370
Delta Dental.How to: Change electric toothbrush heads.
The Dental College of Georgia.Do you really need to toss your toothbrush after the flu?.
American Dental Association.Cold and flu season.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Don’t be quick to toss your toothbrush after a sore throat.
American Dental Association.Brushing your teeth.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Use & handling of toothbrushes.
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