What Happens If You Don't Replace an Old Toothbrush

Posted on 5/10/2021 by Dr. Nick Raptou

When it comes to dental care and hygiene, one of the biggest mistakes made by many people is that they don't replace an old toothbrush. Be it due to laziness or forgetfulness, not replacing your toothbrush brings about great many health risks and dangers.

It is generally recommended that you change your toothbrush every 3-4 months, but a lot of people are guilty of waiting for a greater number of months in this regard.

Here's what happens if you don't replace an old toothbrush at the right time.

Damage Caused to Gums Due to Worn Bristles

After using your toothbrush for two to three months, you will notice that the bristles start becoming loose and frayed. When this happens, people often end up applying more pressure while brushing their teeth to make up for the ineffective bristles.

Doing this can cause serious damage to the gums because aggressive brushing results in serious pain and discomfort, eventually causing your gums to recede.

Higher Risk of Infection

This goes without saying; the longer that you use your toothbrush, the greater amount of bacteria it collects. So, if you don't replace an old toothbrush well in time, there's a higher risk of dental infection because of the bacteria.

Not just that, but the infection can further spread to the other parts of the body, which poses a very serious health concern.

Tooth Loss

Brushing your teeth with an old, worn-out toothbrush means that not all your teeth receive proper cleaning, and some are likely to get neglected due to the frayed bristles.

This eventually leads to plaque and tartar accumulation on the teeth, and if you continue to use the same old toothbrush, it can eventually trigger tooth loss as the plaque hardens over time.

If you've been using an old toothbrush for a long time, it is about time that you replace it. It's also a good idea to get your teeth checked, so contact us at Raptou Family Dental, where Dr. Raptou and will examine your teeth and look for possible signs of infection.

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