Novosibirsk dentists: humidity is toothbrush's main enemy, replace every three months
Toothbrushes should be replaced after illnesses like colds to prevent pathogen buildup.
A toothbrush is something everyone uses daily, but sometimes people don«t think about how often it needs to be changed. NGS learned recommendations from Novosibirsk dentists on replacing brushes for children and adults.
Dentists advise children to start using flossers once their molars are in close contact.
Dentist-orthopedist at the Snezhnost clinic, Tatyana Avgustova, notes that the standard recommendation from dentists is to change the brush every three months.
Acquiring a new toothbrush at the start of each season helps maintain oral hygiene.
“To make it easier to remember, we tell patients that the brush should be changed at the start of a new season — June 1, September 1, December 1, and March 1. But it«s important to note: if you changed the brush, brushed your teeth, and feel that it doesn»t suit you, it«s better to replace it immediately,” says the dentist.
The brush should be replaced earlier if it has frayed. Usually, this happens with low-quality brushes. The dentist explains that replacement is also needed if someone from the family brushed their teeth with your brush, as well as after recovering from an infectious disease.
Chief doctor, leading pediatric dentist, dentist-therapist at the DENTIX CITY family dentistry center, Elena Savina, adds that for electric toothbrush heads, the recommendations are the same.
“Many modern models have a wear indicator — a colored stripe on the bristles that gradually fades. This is a convenient hint for users,” notes Elena Savina.
The specialist emphasizes that adults need to monitor children«s brushes especially carefully: children often chew on brushes, so the bristles wear out faster. The brush can become unusable in just 1–2 months.
According to Elena Savina, the main enemy of a toothbrush is humidity and lack of ventilation. After brushing, she recommends thoroughly rinsing the bristles under a stream of hot water and shaking off excess moisture. It«s better to store the brush in a cup with the bristles up so it can dry quickly and completely.
The dentist advises against storing all family«s brushes in one closed container — they should not touch each other. A closed case is suitable only for trips.
Earlier, Novosibirsk dentists advised on how to choose a toothbrush and toothpaste.
