20 April 2011
Toothbrush care is important for maintaining good oral hygiene. Here are some tips to keep them in top shape:
- • Check your toothbrush to make sure the bristles are not splayed as this reduces their cleaning effectiveness. If the bristles cannot reach in to the pockets around the teeth, they will not be able to remove plaque from those areas. Some manufacturers have a colour indicator that fades with use but this is not always useful.
- • Ideally toothbrushes should be replaced every 3-4 months. A good mental reminder is the start of a new season.
- • Rinse your toothbrush thoroughly after brushing to remove the toothpaste and particles and flick the bristles dry. Store the toothbrushes upright and keep them away from other toothbrushes when possible.
- • Do not cover the toothbrushes or store them in a closed container for long periods as bacteria breed more effectively in a moist environment.
- • Do not share your toothbrush as this can spread body fluids, bacteria and viruses between users. This may cause the spread of disease within a household and may lead to a higher risk of infections.
- • Make sure to close the lid of the toilet as the aerosol from flushing can spread around 2m!
Don’t be too quick to throw away that old toothbrush though because you can use it to clean the grout around the tiles in the bathrooms
Make sure that you only use a soft or extra soft bristle toothbrush as anything harder can cause toothbrush abrasion around the neck of the teeth. The earliest sign of damage is recession of the gums.
Happy Easter and enjoy the ANZAC long weekend!
