07 Aug Refresh Your Oral Health With Smart Toothbrush Care
Oral health is a major concern for Americans of all ages, with tooth decay affecting some 90% of the population between the ages of 20 and 64.
Everyone knows the best way to preserve your dental health is to brush your teeth and floss every day. You should be brushing two times per day for two minutes at a time with fluoride toothpaste, as recommended by the American Dental Association.
Brushing your teeth correctly means that you should replace your toothbrush every few months. If you’re going through your brushes too quickly, it’s time to implement smart toothbrush care. With the right toothbrush cleaning and care practices, your brush will last longer and be more effective at cleaning your teeth.
Today, we’ll explain some of our recommended toothbrush care tips and their benefits. Keep reading and take your dental health to new heights this year.
Smart Toothbrush Care Tips
When you care for your toothbrush, you care for your teeth. These are the best toothbrush cleaning tips you need to implement into your dental care routine.
Don’t Brush Too Hard
When you brush your teeth, you should be gently scrubbing, not pressing the brush against them. A couple of things happen when you brush too hard: you’ll damage your tooth enamel, as well as the bristles on your toothbrush.
If you have bent bristles on your brush, they don’t hit your teeth head-on and fail to do the job you need them to do. They won’t get into the cracks and crevices in your teeth to clean out the food and bacteria. Over time, these things create tooth decay that we’re all trying to avoid.
Keep the pressure light when brushing. You’ll keep your brush working well for its entire lifespan.
Rinse Brush Before and After Brushing
Brushing your teeth (hopefully) scrubs all the bacteria and debris from your teeth. When you finish your two minutes of brushing, all these bacteria, debris, as well as any leftover toothpaste, is sitting on the brush.
Rinse your toothbrush under warm water before putting your brush away. Failing to do so will leave the bacteria on your brush to grow, which contaminates it and renders it more dangerous than helpful.
Unless you have a toothbrush cover, your brush can also accumulate bacteria from sitting in the open air. Rinse your toothbrush before brushing to remove bacteria and prevent it from getting into your mouth.
Keep it in an Upright Position
Your brush needs to dry before you use it again. The best way to do this is to leave it in an upright position with the bristle end at the top. If your brush is left upside down, it’ll stay wet, which makes it a breeding ground for mold and other harmful bacteria.
You’re most vulnerable to these issues when you go on vacation. If you’re quickly packing your brush away while it’s still wet, you’re going to have bacteria problems. Always let it air dry before putting a cover on and placing it in your bag.
Soak it in Mouthwash
You don’t have to soak your brush in antibacterial mouthwash, but it can kill bacteria on the bristles. This can help give you peace of mind. Leaving the bristle end immersed in mouthwash for 15 minutes will reduce the bacterial load, according to the ADA.
The only issue with doing this is that it could reduce the effectiveness of your toothbrush faster than if you just rinse it. Under no circumstances should you use the mouthwash after you’ve had your toothbrush soaking in it.
Know When to Replace
The most important thing to remember is that you need to replace your brush every 3-4 months, even after implementing all the above measures. Worn-out bristles with bacteria accumulated on them can do more harm than good for your teeth.
Smart Toothbrush Benefits
There are countless benefits of toothbrush care and regular brushing. Take these to heart when you’re considering your dental care routine.
Avoid Spread of Bacteria
The biggest perk of cleaning a toothbrush is that you’ll avoid the unnecessary spread of bacteria. If you allow bacteria to fester on your toothbrush, and then put it in your mouth time and time again, it’s not just your oral health that you’re damaging.
You could end up with a transmissible illness that could quickly spread around your household and beyond. The simple act of rinsing and replacing the brush, when necessary, will help you avoid these issues.
Keep Your Oral Health Safe
Of course, regular brushing with a suitable toothbrush is the best way to keep your teeth safe. Nowadays, many people choose electric toothbrushes, which are better at deep cleaning our teeth when used correctly. The cleaning procedure for these toothbrushes remains the same, however.
Proper brushing will help you avoid tooth decay. Tooth decay isn’t just uncomfortable, it can lead to a variety of other issues, such as gingivitis and gum disease.
Avoid Other Health Conditions
When your dental care routine fails or you use a dirty toothbrush for too long, you’ll develop the problems mentioned above. Unfortunately, oral health issues don’t always stop in your mouth.
The mouth is often referred to as the gateway to your overall health. In developing periodontal disease, bacteria can quickly enter your gut biome, where it can create any number of other health issues.
Some of the most harmful wider health issues that arise from poor oral health include cardiovascular disease, endocarditis, and even some forms of cancer.
Improve Your Gum and Dental Health
Taking care of your toothbrush is just like taking care of your oral health. If you’re diligent about it, you won’t have anything to worry about. It’s when you ignore it that you run into problems.
Implementing smart toothbrush cleaning habits is only one aspect of dental health. You need to get regular cleanings and checkups from a good dentist to truly make sure your teeth and gums are in good shape.
If you’re in Tampa, get the best dental care from McIlwain Dental Specialists. We strive to give you the best possible dental care without any stress. Contact us today to schedule your first appointment.