Your toothbrush or toothbrush head for electric toothbrush should be replaced approximately every 3 months. After that amount of time, your toothbrush will lose it’s effectiveness. As we are sure you have noticed, the bristles can become frayed or begin to bend and shift in different directions. Both of these occurrences make your toothbrush less effective for removing plaque and food debris. And that is the whole purpose of using a toothbrush! For electric toothbrushes, there is even a handy indicator that will tell you when replacement is necessary, so it is good to keep an eye on that.

If you notice that your toothbrush frays sooner than 3 months, take a look at how hard you are brushing. If you are “smashing” your toothbrush against your teeth, you are brushing too hard. You should be able to feel the bristles against your teeth, but not be pushing them against them. Think about how you brush your hair and apply that logic!

And of course, go to your dental cleanings once every six months. Because no matter how well you brush and floss, professional cleanings and check-ups are vital to the oral health of your teeth and early detection of any issues.