Much of the success of any job relies on the tools you use to complete it. In the case of achieving pristine oral care, the tools you use to get the job done are your toothbrush and dental floss. While it may not seem like a big deal, taking care of your dental tools is an important part of your oral hygiene routine.

Choosing Your Toothbrush

Choosing a toothbrush is no easy task. Just take a walk down the dental care aisle, if you don’t believe us. There are thousands of variations of this essential tool. Soft, medium and hard bristles, rubber bristles, brushes with tongue cleaners attached. While it can be overwhelming there is no need to fear, choosing the best toothbrush for yourself can be easy.

It’s important to always choose a toothbrush with soft bristles. Hard bristles, don’t clean your teeth any better and can actually wear down your tooth enamel easily if you’re a hard, vigorous brusher to begin with. Choosing a brush with gum stimulating bristles can also be helpful, however they are not necessary if you are brushing your teeth correctly. Finally, if you want a superior clean without exerting much effort yourself, choosing an oscillating electric toothbrush is the way to go. Those are the types of toothbrushes that resemble professional cleaning tools, with a circle-shaped brush that moves in a circular motion around teeth.

In fact, a UK-based study found that using oscillating, electric toothbrushes correctly for three months led to a 21 percent decrease in dental plaque and an 11 percent decrease in cases of gingivitis.  That is some good news for those of you in the market for a new toothbrush.

The most important thing about choosing a toothbrush that is right for you, is choosing one that you know you will use. Ultimately pick the toothbrush that will make you excited to brush your teeth in the morning and at night.

Caring for Your Tooth Brush

It is sad to say, but not much thought goes into the care of toothbrushes. Thankfully, their simple design does not require much maintenance, however there are a few things to consider to ensure your brush is safe, clean, and effectively maintains your oral health.

Allow your toothbrush to dry between uses – Bacteria and mold love warm, damp conditions. By placing your toothbrush upright in an toothbrush holder or in a ventilated tooth brush case, you’ll prevent bacteria and mildew from claiming your oral utensil.

Keep your toothbrush in a safe spot – Kids and pets are notorious for playing with things that aren’t theirs and dropping them on the floor. Keep your toothbrush out of reach from Fido either in a drawer, or far back on the bathroom counter. Another reason to make sure that your toothbrush in a safe spot in your bathroom is to minimize any potential contact it may have with other bacteria bathrooms are infamous for.

Replace Your Toothbrush – Toothbrushes, like shoes, need replacing often. You brush your teeth with an abrasive toothpaste twice a day for two minutes, that’s a lot of wear and tear. We recommend replacing your toothbrush every three months to preserve the integrity of this important oral health tool. At a microscopic level a new toothbrush has frayed edges that help clear away bacteria, over the course of three months, these bristles lose their fray and do not work as effectively. Replacing your toothbrush every three months is the only way to make sure you are protecting your teeth to the best of your ability every time you brush.

Taking care of your teeth is one of the most important thing you can do for your oral health and total body wellness. But, in order to take care of your teeth you need to make sure that the tools you use to take care of them are in proper working order. No matter what toothbrush works best for personal style of oral care, taking care of this essential tool is extremely important. If you have any questions about how to take care of your toothbrush, how often you need to replace them, or any other questions about your toothbrush, ask your Jacksonville dentist today.