While you might think the quality of your toothbrush doesn’t have much to do with your oral hygiene, you could be wrong. If you have been using your old toothbrush for a long time, it might be time to change it as your old toothbrush will not clean your teeth as efficiently as a new one.
Using a toothbrush regularly for a long time can cause you dental problems like toothaches and other diseases. So, if you have been facing any discomfort that you might not think is severe, contact a dental practice in Powell, TN, and get a check-up. Because a professional can identify any oral health issue much faster and better.
However, some signs indicate that your toothbrush is getting old, and it might be time to change it.
- Worn out bristles
Worn-out bristles are a common way to judge that you need to replace your toothbrush. Usually, frayed bristles result from overuse, which means your toothbrush has reached its limit and will no longer clean your teeth efficiently.
- Your teeth do not feel relatively clean even after brushing.
This signifies that your toothbrush is not cleaning your teeth properly and should be disposed of. If your toothbrush cannot clean the daily build-up of plaque, food, and other bacteria, it is probably no longer functioning. After thoroughly brushing your teeth, they should feel high; if this is not the case, you need a new brush.
- You fell sick the recent.
If you recently suffered from an illness, it might be because of the existing germs and bacteria in your old toothbrush. So even though the chances of the disease reoccurring are less, it might be best if you got rid of your old toothbrush and bought a new one.
- An unpleasant odor
Anything that smells unpleasant should not be put inside your mouth as it can contain bacterial growth. It also includes your toothbrush, and if it has started giving a foul odor, you should probably get rid of it as soon as possible as it might harm your oral health.
- You forgot the last time you changed your toothbrush.
The ideal period to use any toothbrush is 2-3 months. However, if you have not replaced your tooth burhs in a long time, you should probably do it immediately.
Sometimes the overall look of your toothbrush can be nice, and it might not smell; however, germs can still exist if you have been using it a long time. So it is better to replace it before it causes any harm to your oral health.