How Often Your Child’s Toothbrush Should be Changed Out

Making sure your kids brush their teeth at least twice a day can be quite the chore! But it’s a necessary part of helping them to achieve and then maintain proper oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth gently removes the plaque and bacteria that can cause dental cavities and the weakening of the tooth enamel. If plaque is allowed to accumulate and the tooth enamel becomes damaged, tooth decay, tooth discoloration, dental cavities, or even a tooth abscess can be the result.

Your children should be brushing their teeth at least twice a day for at least two minutes at a time with fluoride toothpaste. They should also be flossing at least once a day.

Changing Out Your Child’s Toothbrush

It’s tough to maintain your child’s dental hygiene if you’re not using clean tools! Below are a few reasons why you should change out toothbrushes and how often it should be done:

• As you brush your teeth, the bacteria and germs that coat the surface of the teeth are removed from the teeth and onto the toothbrush. Brushing the recommended twice daily means that your child’s brush can quickly become full of germs and bacteria.
• The germs and bacteria that accumulate on the bristles of your child’s toothbrush won’t all disappear the next time they brush. This means that it’s possible for the old germs and bacteria to be transferred back onto the teeth when they brush.
• After 3-4 months of accumulating plaque and bacteria, your child’s toothbrush may be doing more harm than good. This is also around the time the bristles begin to fray, which decreases the effectiveness of the toothbrush.
• It’s also recommended that you throw away your child’s toothbrush after an illness such as the flu, strep throat, bronchitis, or other contagious diseases. This is to avoid getting them sick again by putting their toothbrush germs back in their mouth.

In addition to at-home hygiene, you should also be bringing your child to our office every 6 months for a dental cleaning and a checkup! To call about your children’s appointments, please contact Firestone Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics.