How Often Should You Replace Your Toothbrush

In general, dentists recommend replacing your toothbrush every 90 days. However, your teeth-brushing routine can actually impact how often you should replace your toothbrush, so let’s take a closer look at why swapping out your manual brush or electric brush head is so important.

Why You Should Change Your Toothbrush Head

Your toothbrush is an essential part of your daily routine for brushing your teeth and, when paired with toothpaste, it helps prevent harmful bacteria from building up on your teeth and around your gum line. However, your toothbrush loses its effectiveness over time. Why?

The bristles on your toothbrush head slowly wear out or break down with use — and the more you use your toothbrush, the more often you may need to replace it. If your brush head has lost effectiveness, it may leave plaque behind and can even hurt your gums.

How Often to Change Your Toothbrush

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you replace your toothbrush head approximately every three to four months (around 90 days) to prevent bacteria from building up on the bristles.

However, if you notice your bristles are fraying, you may want to replace your toothbrush head sooner — whether using a manual or an electric toothbrush — to ensure you’re cleaning your mouth most effectively.

Tips for Replacing Your Toothbrush Head

Remembering to replace your toothbrush head can be difficult, especially if you have a lot of other things to think about! Here are four easy tips to help you remember:

1. Set a reminder.
   Whether you use a physical calendar or program an automatic reminder in your smartphone, setting a reminder will help you remember to change out your toothbrush head.
2. Use color-changing brush heads.
   Some Oral-B replacement brush heads come with color-changing bristles to indicate when you should get a new one. This is an easy (and visual) way to remember.
3. Buy in bulk.
   If you have trouble remembering to buy a new brush head, try buying multiple refills at a time, so you’ll always have a replacement when you need it. Make sure to also store your extra toothbrushes or brush heads in a place where you will easily spot them to help you remember to replace your brush head when its time.
4. Subscribe to a brush head replacement plan.
   Make replacing your toothbrush heads easier than ever by signing up for an Oral-B subscription plan. If you’re an Oral-B Connect app user, then try Amazon Dash Replenishment. Either way, you’ll get a fresh replacement brush head delivered right to your door when you need it.

Now you know how important it is to replace your toothbrush head often, and why it matters. Learn more about dental hygiene and tips for maintaining a healthy mouth on at the Oral-B Connect blog.