A question we receive from time to time is “how often should I replace my toothbrush?”. It’s a great question, one that everyone should know the answer to.

3 months.

There’s a saying “good things come in 3s”. In this case, perhaps this may hold some truth. Every 3 months is the recommended time frame to replace your toothbrush.

Reasons Why We Replace Toothbrushes

By understanding the reasons why we replace toothbrushes, we hope you are motivated to stay consistent every 3 months in swapping them out.

Bristles

The bristles on a toothbrush do not last forever. Over time and after around 3 months of use (or even earlier) you will begin to see worn out bristles that do not stand erect and are splayed. It’s hard to miss.

Germs

In 3 months time, a lot of germs will have accumulated on your toothbrush. Chances are, you don’t spend much time actually cleaning your toothbrush. As such, by replacing your old brush with a newer one, we give ourselves a fresh start. A great analogy to think of is changing out your car’s oil.

Research

Believe it or not research has been performed on toothbrush effectiveness and from what has been gathered, the studies have shown that new toothbrushes can remove more plaque compared to old ones. Is this a surprise? Not to us!

What About An Electric Toothbrush?

These are a bit of a different story as electric toothbrush heads are more durable than standard options. As such, we recommend changing heads every 4-6 months or until the head looks frayed.

Some people have a habit of changing their toothbrush out every dental appointment, which for most is twice a year. While you may be able to scrape by doing this, it really depends on the condition of your oral health.

For those with periodontal disease you are going to want to change out every couple months or earlier! This is to prevent the spread of bacteria into your gums. If you are ever confused as to when you personally should swap your toothbrush out, simply ask your dentist or hygienist and they will let you know. But a good rule of thumb to stick by is every 3 months. We hope this information helps!