Thursday, November 6, 2008
A weathered toothbrush isn’t a pretty sight. The bristles are bent, the blue stripe has receded past recognition, and it’s beginning to taste a bit like last night’s dinner. If that reminds you of your time-tested dental hygiene implement, it’s time to buy a new one. Not only are old toothbrushes gross-looking, they are downright dirty.
A study by the American Dental Association says toothbrushes can harbor microorganisms and bacteria that can lead to oral or systemic infections. And, the longer you stick with one brush, the more bacteria it picks up. The ADA recommends using a toothbrush for a maximum of four months.
“A toothbrush will get bacteria from anything it comes into contact with,” says Angela Bradley, dental hygienist at Wiklund, Peterson and Krische General Dentistry in Lawrence. “And that bacteria might not be something you’d want in your mouth.”
Bradley suggests replacing toothbrushes every three months or when the bristles begin to splay sideways. She says one of the most important steps to keeping a toothbrush clean is consistently rinsing and drying it after use. Rinsing the brush helps shed some of the bacteria, and drying it helps eliminate mold and mildew.
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