For some people, changing their toothbrush is something that just falls to the bottom of their list of priorities. However, this can cause problems in your mouth if you are not flipping it out often enough. Some people only need to replace their toothbrush about every three months and not think anything more about it during the year. Are you one of those people?
Knowing When to Change Out Your Toothbrush
Normally, when you are healthy, changing your toothbrush every three months is sufficient. Then, as the bristles are getting worn down and the bacteria are growing on the brush, you toss it out and get a new one. However, for those of us that get sick more often or have specific health conditions, we may be putting our mouths at risk if we wait that long.
People with chronic ailments that involve the mouth or the throat should change out their toothbrushes with each recurrence. This means if you get strep regularly, or you seem to always get cold sores, you need to have spare toothbrushes on hand. When you get a flare up, throw out your old toothbrush during treatment and use a different one. Then, when treatment is over, toss out the interim toothbrush and open another new one. This way, you keep your mouth healthier and keep from cross-contaminating your mouth.
If you have diabetes, you should also swap out your toothbrush more often. Since you are at higher risk of tooth decay, you need to use your toothbrush regularly (as everyone should) and throw it out more often than normal. Depending on how advanced your diabetes is, you may need to do it as often as every 3-4 weeks. Come in and let us see what condition your teeth are in, and we can help you figure out how often will be best for your teeth.
Call us at River Valley Smile Center today. We can schedule a consultation with one of the dentists where they can discuss reasons you may need to flip out your toothbrush more often than every three months. You can then figure out the best plan of action to keep your oral health in great shape, and even discuss if you need to come in for more visits and exams than normal due to the issues that could be causing you to flip out your toothbrush more often. We look forward to seeing you!
