Tooth brush should be replaced immediately after recovery from flu, cough, sore throat, fever, any other infection
Know right time to replace your toothbrush: Brushing teeth twice a day, every morning and night is important for oral health. Often people use toothbrush until its bristles are worn out. This makes it difficult to clean your teeth properly.
For a good oral hygiene it is not only important to brush twice a day but also replacing the tooth brush at right time. Using the same tooth brush for a long time can cause yellowing of teeth, bad breath, weakening of gums and increase the risk of periodontal disease. Following are the signs which indicate it’s time to replace your toothbrush?
Spread out bristles: If the bristles are spread out instead of staying straight, then the condition of the brush is deteriorating.
Bending of bristles: Due to continuous use and excessive pressure, the bristles may bend. Sometimes, worn out bristles can make brushing less effective.
The brush head appears dirty or damaged: If the toothbrush appears to be in poor condition despite proper cleaning and drying, it is best to replace it. As a result risk of bacterial infection may increase in the mouth.
Three to four months have passed: Even if the toothbrush looks fine, it’s time to replace it every 3-4 months as per general advice. Because using same tooth brush for a long time can impact oral hygiene.
After an illness: If you are suffering from flu, cough, sore throat, fever, any other infection or oral problem then you should replace your tooth brush immediately after recovery. Using the same tooth brush after recovery may increase the risk of infection.
Tongue Cleaner
The time to replace a tongue cleaner depends on the material it is made of.
Plastic tongue cleaners: These should be replaced every 3 to 4 months, just like toothbrushes. Plastic tends to accumulate bacteria and can crack.
Metal (stainless steel or copper): These are quite long-lasting. If you clean them daily with warm water and soap, they can last a year or more. Just make sure they don’t rust or have sharp edges.
