Brushing your teeth for too long with the same brush is bad for your oral health.
Brush your teeth at least twice a day, but not just anything. Those who pride themselves on respecting this recommended daily frequency should not forget another important point: the cleanliness of their tool, according to health experts manual or electric, should be changed every three months, for both adults and children. Beyond that, the object becomes ineffective and presents questionable hygiene.
Bacteria and cavities
If the risks of inadequate toothbrushing are very real, the risks of poor quality brushing are just as real, as Elodie Terrer (1), microbiological researcher and head of the department of restorative dentistry at the APHM (Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Marseille) reminded us in a previous article. ), “brushing includes chemical action with toothpaste and mechanical actions; the brush gesture. If the brush is worn, we lose the primary role of the brush. tartar and plaque will be removed less well, bacteria will multiply, and this will promote cavities.
To avoid this, you should not hesitate to change your toothbrush, even before the recommended three-month period, as soon as you notice that the nylon bristles are sagging or worn. In addition to ineffective brushing, a worn brush can cause irritation to the gums, from simple bleeding to more serious things , such as separation of the outer layer of the mucous membrane,” warned the researcher.
Store your toothbrush properly
In addition to regular brush maintenance, be sure to rinse the product with warm water for a few seconds after each wash stay, otherwise the bacteria multiply,” Dr. Elodie Terer also told us. Therefore, we leave the toilet bag or case open as much as possible.
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What should I do if my toothbrush falls on the floor? Throw it away, according to the expert, because the ground is full of bacteria that can stick to hair and then find shelter in our mouths. We share the same fate with our brushes after a trip, due to all the possible bacteria accumulated in an unfamiliar environment. We were warned.
(1) Elodie Terrere is also a university professor and hospital practitioner (PUPH).
Source: Le Figaro
