Irwin Malitz DDS & Associates
Lifespan of a Toothbrush
If you're like 42% of Americans, you consider your toothbrush a more important invention than the personal computer, automobile, microwave, and cell phone. But even as important as it is, it's easy to take our toothbrushes for granted. Many of us keep the same, old toothbrush around far too long. According to a study sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive, most Americans replace their brush every 9 months, with only about 9% replacing their brushes regularly. An online study, conducted by the company that makes Butler GUM® brand of oral care products, reports that 47% of respondents said that they replace their brushes less often than recommended.
When Should You Replace Your Toothbrush?
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that healthy people change their toothbrush every three months, or sooner if the bristles are bent or broken. The Academy of General Dentistry adds that people who have become ill should replace their toothbrush at the beginning and end of the illness. Some experts advise that you get a new toothbrush even more frequently. Richard T. Glass, DDS, professor of oral pathology at the University of Oklahoma Center for Health Sciences, suggests that we replace our toothbrushes every two weeks.
Why Should You Replace Your Toothbrush So Often?
A brand new toothbrush has clean bristles with rounded edges. When used properly, new brushes can gently sweep away plaque, bacteria, and food debris without damaging your teeth, gums, or general health.
On the other hand, older toothbrushes have bristles with broken, frayed, and sometimes sharp edges. These conditions make a toothbrush less effective at removing plaque and bacteria, and the sharp edges can sometimes damage gum tissue. In addition, older toothbrushes can be contaminated with bacteria, viruses, and fungus. For this reason, it's especially important to replace your toothbrush if you've had a cold, cold sores, or infection, dropped your toothbrush on the floor or other contaminated area, or shared it with someone else.
There's some debate about whether you should replace your toothbrush more often than every three months. Millions of germs live naturally in your mouth, and when you brush your teeth, many of these bacteria and other microorganisms stay on your toothbrush. In addition, organisms that float by in the air can also be caught by toothbrush bristles. These organisms can continue to live on toothbrushes for 1 to 3 days or even more if conditions are right. And when you brush again, some of these organisms can be transferred back into your mouth. Not everyone, though, agrees that this is a problem.
In January 2002, the Centers for Disease Control noted that there was no published evidence showing that reusing a properly handled toothbrush leads to a healthy person's becoming ill from re-infection by these germs. They suggest that you rinse your toothbrush thoroughly after brushing and let it air dry standing upright. On the other hand, other experts, such as Dr. Glass, say that these germs can indeed cause infections, such as colds and gingivitis, to recur. Dr. Glass says that older toothbrushes are especially dangerous because their sharp edges harbor bacteria and can cause very small cuts in the gum tissue, allowing these organisms enter the body more easily.
Depending on your situation, we may recommend a middle ground. You could replace your toothbrush every three months as the ADA recommends, and clean it between uses. In an article published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, Mary Zolonowski-Casey, DDS, suggests that you run your toothbrushes through the dishwasher. This doesn't damage the toothbrushes, and the very hot water can kill many germs. Another method is to soak your toothbrush for 20 minutes in an antiseptic mouthwash. There are also toothbrush purifiers on the market made for home use.
Recycle Your Old Toothbrushes
If you find you just can't part with that favorite old toothbrush, go ahead and keep it around for other uses. First, clean old toothbrushes by washing them with hot water and soap (the dishwasher works well for this). After they're clean, put your toothbrushes to work by:
• Cleaning and oiling tools and car parts
• Gently scrubbing jewelry
• Staking up small plants
• Scrubbing dirty collars and cuffs with pre-wash treatments
• Removing lint from Velcro® fasteners
• Cleaning out electric razors and trimmers
• Scouring tile grout and shower door tracks
• Brushing finger and toe nails
• Combing eyebrows and removing clumps of mascara
For More Information
We will be happy to talk with you about toothbrushes and their proper use. If you have special health concerns or oral conditions, we may recommend that you use a specific kind of brush, suggest a specific replacement schedule, or demonstrate particular brushing techniques. In the meantime, visit these websites for more information:
• American Academy of General Dentistry at
http://www.agd.org/consumer/topics/toothbrushes/index.html • American Dental Association at
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/products.html 