To maintain good oral health there are a number of things to be aware of when it comes to your mouth – including your toothbrush.
Guidance states for people to brush their teeth twice a day and to maintain good flossing habits.
Your toothbrush, much like your oral habits, is crucial as it’s the primary tool used to remove plaque, lowering your risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
By regularly brushing your teeth with a good quality toothbrush, you effectively prevent a host of health issues while ensuring healthy teeth and gums.
This is why the NHS have issued an urgent warning to anyone with toothbrushes which are older than three months.
A person’s toothbrush conditions and type of bristles are known to significantly impact its effectiveness.
A toothbrush with soft bristles are generally recommended as they’re best at working against gum damage while still also removing plaque.
The NHS has issued a warning that those using old toothbrushes with harder bristles could be risking an infection on a daily basis and are not even aware of it.
Alerting people to this seemingly innocent mistake online, the health service has issued a strong caution to all who don’t replace their toothbrush regularly.
The NHS wrote on an NHS Foundation Trust website, advising people to “change your toothbrush every three months when possible”.
Their advice extended to the type of toothbrush head that’s best, which are the types that can easily reach parts of your mouth which are not often brushed including those hard-to-reach back teeth.
It further adds that by simply changing your toothbrush every three months, “these actions will help to remove plaque and bacteria from your teeth which can cause tooth decay and gum disease”.
Harley Street dentist, Dr Richard Marques, further advises to “brush at a 45 degree angle to reach the teeth and gum line. Ideally you want to reach all surfaces of the teeth”.
He added: “We often recommend using an electric toothbrush as they clean and polish the teeth to a high level.
“However, it is important not to use a very high setting as once again you can wear the teeth enamel or damage the gum tissue with a medium setting being best.”
The three-month rule works best for toothbrushes longevity but other signs to spot that it’s time to part ways with your toothbrush include frayed or worn bristles, a fuzzy feeling on your teeth even after brushing, a bad smell from the brush and if the bristles are visibly bent or splayed out significantly.
“Also remember to see your dentist and hygienist for regular dental checkups and cleaning appointments,” added Dr Marques.
