Have you ever noticed that the bristles on your toothbrush begin to fray over time? Have you ever wondered when to replace your toothbrush? Many of our patients ask our team at Calcagno Cosmetic & Family Dentistry about toothbrush replacement and storage methods. To help answer your questions, Dr. Gilly Calcagno and our team offer some helpful tips.
Replacing Your Toothbrush
The American Dental Association recommends that you discard a manual toothbrush or replace the head of your electric toothbrush at least every three months. However, you should replace your toothbrush if you notice that the bristles have frayed before every 90 days. We recommend that you check your toothbrush’s bristles on a weekly basis. Frayed bristles cannot effectively remove daily plaque deposits from your teeth and gums.
Cleaning Your Toothbrush
Some patients have asked us if cleaning their toothbrushes in a special solution is necessary to keep their brushes sanitary. Dr. Calcagno along with the ADA believes that sanitizing your toothbrush with anti-bacterial solutions is not necessary. However, we urge patients to rinse their toothbrush with warm water after each use to remove debris and left over toothpaste.
Storing Your Toothbrush
We recommend that you store your toothbrush on your sink or countertop in an upright position. It is important to allow your brush to dry between uses. Bacteria thrive in moist environments. For this reason, we urge patients to avoid storing their toothbrushes in cases unless they are traveling. When traveling, we recommend placing your brush in a travel case with small holes.
Calcagno Cosmetic & Family Dentistry provides preventive dentistry to patients of all ages as well as cosmetic and restorative dental services. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Calcagno, contact our Rochester dentist office at (507) 281-3659. We serve patients from Winona, Red Wing, St. Charles, Hastings, Farmington, and the neighboring Rochester communities.
