No matter how often or how well you brush your teeth, you’re not going to be doing much good if your brush isn’t up to the task. Many people neglect their brushes, allowing them to break down over time so that they start to do more harm than good. To avoid this, try taking measures to preserve your toothbrush.
The first thing to remember is that you generally shouldn’t expect to use a brush for more than three months. Your bristles are becoming bent and broken, and after a while they’re splayed about and too weak to properly scrub your teeth. You may need to change your brush even more frequently if you brush particularly hard, or if you are struggling with gum disease.
You also want to watch out for bacteria and other contaminants building up on your brush. Not only is your oral bacteria lingering on your bristles after you finish brushing, but airborne particles ejected from your toilet can accumulate on your brush. Take care to store your brush where it can dry out between brushes, but still shielded from your toilet. Also, don’t allow your brush to touch the head of any other brushes that are stored in the same bathroom.
Periodically clean your brush by dipping it in an antimicrobial mouthwash. Do not put it in the dishwasher or the microwave, as these can easily damage the brush.