Caring for your teeth by brushing and flossing every day is very important for your oral health. Did you know that caring for your toothbrush helps you to better care for your smile? Read on for some toothbrush care tips.
Caring for Your Toothbrush
To keep your toothbrush and your mouth in good shape, make sure to let your toothbrush dry out between uses. If not cared for properly, toothbrushes can be the breeding ground for fungus and bacteria. After you brush your teeth, rinse your toothbrush well under tap water. Store your toothbrush upright so that it can air out. Make sure that your toothbrush doesn’t touch any other toothbrushes. This can help prevent cold and flu viruses from being spread.
Replacing Your Toothbrush
Toothbrushes don’t last forever. Make sure to replace your toothbrush every three months. After this amount of time, wear and tear makes a toothbrush much less effective at removing plaque from the teeth and gums. In addition, Dr. Dean Wright recommends that you replace your toothbrush after you’ve had a cold, a mouth infection, a sore throat, or the flu. These germs can get in the toothbrush bristles and lead to reinfection.
Toothbrush Care When Travelling
Use a plastic toothbrush case to protect the bristles of your toothbrush from being flattened. Make sure that you let your toothbrush dry in the open air, not in the closed toothbrush case, to reduce the growth of bacteria and fungus.
We welcome you to contact Cambridge Family Dentistry at 316-687-2110 today to learn more about toothbrush care and to schedule a visit with our dentist in Wichita, Kansas.