Never forget: your toothbrush is your most important tool when it comes to maintaining a healthy mouth and a bright, clean smile. Everyone at your dentist office near Forked River will confirm this.
With that in mind, it goes without saying that you have to take good care of your toothbrush in order to be sure your toothbrush takes good care of you. Any dentist near Manahawkin has likely seen countless toothbrushes that after many years of use now look like a complete mess rather than the well-designed cleaning tool they are meant to be.
That’s not good, because brushes that are in bad shape don’t do as good a job of keeping your mouth clean and healthy and helping you maintain good oral hygiene.
And you do want good oral hygiene! That’s the reason why you visit Ocean County dentists, after all – in order to have a healthier mouth!
In order to avoid your toothbrush becoming a mess that does more harm than good, follow these simple tips:
Never share your toothbrush – Your mouth is loaded with bacteria of all types, and brushing can sometimes lead to minor bleeding, usually so minor you can’t even see it. Even a little is enough to help aid the transmission of bacteria from one mouth to another, though, and that’s not a good thing. Remember, your toothbrush is for you and you only. And never use someone else’s and don’t let other people use yours!
Always rinse the brush after you’re done – Residue left behind by toothpaste or your mouth can make your toothbrush a breeding ground for bacteria, plus it can also accelerate the breakdown of your brush’s bristles. Just like your mouth, it’s important to keep your brush clean!
To combat microorganism growth, don’t store your brush in a closed container – Those closed containers are like breeding grounds for bacterial growth. They can be GROSS! It’s fine to use them for a day or so when traveling, but you should never store your toothbrush in a closed container for longer than that. If you do, you’ll actually be making your mouth LESS healthy.
Replace your brush every few months – Modern brushes are tough and resilient, but regardless, you should replace them every few months in order to be sure they are doing the best job possible of keeping your teeth clean. A new brush is much more effective than an old one.
Let the bristles do the work – Aggressive brushing is not only bad for your tooth enamel, it’s bad for your toothbrush, too. It can ruin your bristles and impact the lifespan of your brush. Instead, brush gently and let the bristles do their job. It’s what they are designed for!
Always keep in mind that your toothbrush is an important tool in your regular oral health routine. Treat it badly and it will treat your mouth badly in return. Treat it right and it will treat your mouth right – and that will make your dentist near Manahawkin very happy!
