All You Need to Know about Toothbrushes
Brushing your teeth
Brush carefully, pushing the bristles in against your teeth and gums. Use short jiggling strokes on a few teeth at a time. Go around the outsides then insides and finally the biting surfaces of your teeth both top and bottom. When finished spit out but do not rinse, so that the fluoride remains on your teeth for longer.
To ensure a thorough clean you should brush for two minutes twice a day; in the morning after breakfast and at night before bedtime.
Care of your toothbrush
Keep yourself and your toothbrush healthy; let it dry out between uses. Toothbrushes can be breeding grounds for germs, fungi and bacteria, which after a while can build up to significant levels.
After using your toothbrush rinse it under running water, shake it vigorously and store in an upright position so that it can dry.
To prevent cold or flu viruses from being passed between brushes, try to keep your toothbrush from touching others when it is stored.
How often should I change my toothbrush?
You should change your toothbrush every 3 months. After 3 months of use toothbrushes will be much less effective at removing plaque from teeth and gums.
It is also important to change toothbrushes if you have had a cold, flu, mouth infection or sore throat. Germs can ‘hide’ in the toothbrush bristles and lead to reinfection.