Do Toothbrushes Spread Germs?

The majority of us assume that brushing our teeth twice a day and flossing on a daily basis is considered good oral hygiene. However, replacing the tool you use to polish those ivories is just as important. Our mouths are homes to millions of germs and we routinely use our toothbrushes to clean the plaque, food, and odor-causing germs from our mouths. This means that our toothbrushes cam also become contaminated with bacteria, blood, saliva, oral debris, and toothpaste in the process.

Why Is It Important to Change Your Toothbrush?

If the thought of bacteria dwelling on your toothbrush isn’t convincing you to tweak your oral hygiene habits, then think about the physical condition of your toothbrush. Over time, the bristles can become frayed, which means that your toothbrush becomes less effective in removing plaque and food debris around the teeth. According to Dr. Inna Chern, a New York City-based dentist, “a frayed toothbrush is also more likely to harbor bacteria, which can get redeposited in the mouth causing reinfection and increased gingivitis.” Looks like our good old rusty toothbrush isn’t as great after all.

How Often Should You Change Your Toothbrush?

Luckily, all this can be avoided by simply replacing your toothbrush on a regular basis. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends replacing your toothbrush every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles look frayed. If you have braces, then the bristles are more prone to breakage and may need to be replaced sooner. An easy way to know when it’s time to replace your toothbrush is by judging how the brush looks. Once the bristles start to bend and fan apart, then it’s time to dump your old toothbrush. To make it all a little more complicated, there are certain circumstances where you should still replace your perfectly functioning toothbrush. Such circumstances include: after an illness or cold, if you had a mouth or throat infection or if you had a sore throat. Failing to do so can lead to reinfection and that’s no fun… On the bright side, the ADA studies confirm that the bacteria present on your toothbrush is not enough to harm you, unless you’re using a plastic brush cap. Using a cap to protect the bristles is doing you more harm than good, since it “leads to the growth of opportunistic organisms.” Apparently, when people know better, they tend to do better. Now that you know when and why you should replace your toothbrush, all that’s left to do is set a calendar reminder to keep your toothbrush (and teeth) in check!

Ava Ahmadi

March 1, 2020

Sources:

1. http://europepmc.org/article/med/17508674

2. https://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/toothbrushes

3. https://www.electricteeth.com/dental-statistics/

4. https://newyorkgeneraldentistry.com/?utm_source=GMBlisting&utm_medium=organic