708-422-1900 Brushing your teeth daily is an important habit to keep your teeth healthy. So is keeping your brush in good condition. Regular use will wear it out and allow it to gather bacteria. So it is a good idea to care for it so it keeps your mouth healthy. To care for your toothbrush, Drs. Chris Pallotto recommends these tips.
Rinse After Use
After you brush your teeth, always be sure to thoroughly rinse the brush. Using normal tap water should be fine, so you don’t need super-hot water or purified water or anything fancy like that. A thorough rinsing removes toothpaste that was left over after brushing and food particles the brushes picked up.
Store Your Brush Properly
Once you rinse your toothbrush, proper storage is very important to maintaining it. Your brush needs to be allowed to dry out completely, so store it vertically instead of laying it horizontally. You should get a good brush stand that holds each brush away from the others, and allow the brushes to dry out in an open space.
Replace Every Four Months
Your toothbrush isn’t going to last forever, and using it regularly will wear it out so it can’t clean as well. It will generally wear out around month 4, and you can tell if it is time to replace the brush by looking at the bristles. If they are split and frayed, they won’t be able to properly clean the plaque off of your teeth, so at that point, it’s best to replace it.
For more information about dental hygiene or to set an appointment, contact Oak Dental Associates in Oak Lawn, Illinois.