When I was small, around 8-9 years old, we were instructed to bring our own tooth brush to school.
A team of dental nurses from Ministry of Health was expected to come and teach us brushing the next day.
I remember that time, I just brought my existing tooth brushing. We were all lined up near the corridor drain and instructed to get ready with our own tooth brushes.
Suddenly, a nurse took my tooth brush and said loudly,
“Attention all, please do not use this kind of tooth brush.”
Then she returned it back to me and whispered, “Please change your tooth brush okay.”
I admit, my tooth brush was worn out. I think most of my friends brought a new tooth brush.
Honestly ,I felt so embarrassed. My friends laughed and ridiculed me.
Whenever I advised people about tooth brushing now, it reminds me of that incident.
I smiled and feel grateful at how life turned out to be for me. I really cherish the experiences that made me who I am now.
Anyway, let’s get back to the fact about tooth brush issue just now.
Here’s why you should change your tooth brush every 3-4 months or sooner if the bristles are frayed.
1) To prevent bacteria from building up in the bristles affecting your oral health and general well-being. A bathroom can be a hot bed for the bacteria.
2) When brushes are made, the nylon bristles are first cut to the same height, leaving sharp, jagged edges. The end of each bristle is then rounded into a soft dome to make them less abrasive and ensure they don’t scrape away enamel or gum tissue. As you brush, the bristles return to their original jaggedness, which can cause gum recession and wear away enamel.
3) A worn-out brush just doesn’t clean your teeth well, leading to cavities and other damaging side effects! The splayed bristles bend away from teeth while brushing, stopping their fine tips from reaching between teeth and gums, therefore hindering the core reason for brushing.
It is highly recommended to set a reminder on your phone’s calendar to replace your brush.
This will allow you to continue brushing your teeth efficiently and keep all of them for life 😊.
Hope the simple tips help!
~Dr Mawarni