Would you ever eat something that’s expired? We hope you just shook your head. After all, why would you use something that has passed its shelf life? However, has this thought crossed your mind when you brush your teeth? What if you are using a toothbrush way past its due date? When you don’t replace your toothbrush, its diminishing effectiveness can harm you. Hence, let’s discuss what happens when you overuse your toothbrush.
What Happens To Your Toothbrush Over Time?
Obviously, with constant wear and tear, bristles will fray. The mangling and twisting of bristles will deform the shape of your toothbrush’s head. Interestingly, the head plays an important role while you brush your teeth. The proper shape of the head determines the reachability of your toothbrush. Hence, when the head distorts, you can’t access hard-to-reach places in your mouth. Moreover, when bristles fray and fall out, the toothbrush couldn’t sweep away all the plaque buildup.
How Will Overusing Your Toothbrush Affect You?
We will discuss a few possibilities when you decide to skip a trip to the grocery store.
- Gum Irritation:
- Bacterial And Fungal Buildup On Toothbrush:
Fraying bristles start to lose their formation and deform in an unorganized mesh. Thus, while you brush your teeth, the bristles extend out and rub against your gums as well. This can cause gum irritation and bleeding sometimes. Consequently, frayed bristles take the fun out of brushing and make it an annoying experience.
While you can witness the physical degradation of the toothbrush, there is something at play on a microscopic level too. What we are talking about is bacterial or fungi buildup on your toothbrush. Bacteria can come from your mouth, especially when you suffer from a nasal or oral disease such as a cold. The environment plays an equal role in supporting bacteria or fungal buildup. That’s why we always suggest washing and drying thoroughly and then cap your toothbrush after use.
Bacteria on a toothbrush is bad news on all fronts as it can cause new or recurring infections. Keeping bacteria aside, fungi also takes an equal liking for old toothbrushes especially. The spores of fungi are often found in the air. Hence, when they land on the toothbrush, they can sprout and grow in the presence of remnants from your last meal. Mold is a common attacker with an unsightly blackish appearance. It’s something that you wouldn’t want near your mouth.
Plaque Buildup: As we discussed before how frayed toothbrushes are ineffective at clearing away plaque buildup. Eventually, the plaque buildup grows and contributes to gingivitis. Gingivitis is a gum disease that can progress and lead to bone and tooth loss.
Conclusion:
The juice of our discussion drips on the conclusion that you should regularly change your toothbrush. Replacing your toothbrush every three to four months will do the job nicely. Other than that, it would help if you visited a dentist regularly for checkups. Hence, you can call Brenham Family Dental at 979-421-9685 to book an appointment.