Taking care of your toothbrush is one of the most important aspects of taking care of your oral health. Here are some tips to make sure you are doing it right.
Make sure you keep your toothbrush clean. Cleaning your toothbrush is easy! Just rinse it off with plain water to remove food particles and other debris, then place it upright to air-dry. Brushes should always be stored in open air. Moist, closed spaces are excellent breeding grounds for bacteria. If you are in a situation where you must store your toothbrush in a closed-off area, such as for traveling, be sure to air out your brush as often as possible.
Don’t store your toothbrush with other toothbrushes. If you can store it away from them, that’s great! If it must be near other brushes, make sure their heads don’t touch. Touching heads for long periods of time leads to brush cross-contamination and can be dangerous to your oral health.
Sharing toothbrushes is absolutely not okay and should be avoided entirely. It can be incredibly dangerous to your oral health, spreading bacteria, food particles, diseases, infections, and causing a myriad of other mouth problems. Don’t do it. Your toothbrush is yours, and only yours.
Finally, replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. This allows you to get a clean, fresh toothbrush every season of the year! Look for a brush with the ADA Seal of Acceptance logo on the package. This seal is given to products by the American Dental Association (ADA). The product undergoes rigorous testing in order to earn the seal. It guarantees a quality product that does what it says it does, while protecting your teeth.
Be sure to include regular dental visits in your oral hygiene routine. If you are in the West Jordan, Utah area, be sure to call Copper Ridge Dental at 801.260.0530. Dr. R. Erik Cantwell and our team will be happy to help you get the smile you desire!