When Should You Replace Your Electric Toothbrush?


When Should You Replace Your Electric Toothbrush?

Wondering when you should replace your electric toothbrush? We've got you covered!

Electric toothbrushes have made brushing a much simpler process. While it can be more expensive than manual toothbrushes, people who have dexterity problems like the elderly, people with disabilities, or those who have dental appliances, like braces, may find an electric toothbrush easier to use.

But, like any product, your electric toothbrush will wear out, eventually. So when is the right time to replace your toothbrush? Let’s find out!

When Should You Replace Your Electric Toothbrush?

The short answer is when they fail to work.

The average life span of an electric toothbrush is around 5 years. However, you may need to replace it sooner than that if it stops working. The longevity of your electric toothbrush depends on its build quality of it as well as how you take care of it.

When it comes to toothbrush heads, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you replace your toothbrush every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles are visibly matted or frayed.

The ADA recommends brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day with a toothbrush that has soft bristles. But, if you brush more than twice daily or for longer than 2 minutes, you may need to replace your toothbrush sooner than three months.

Several Oral-B brush heads feature indicator bristles which change colour to signal when it's time for a replacement. If you sync your Oral-B's line of electric toothbrushes with the Oral-B app to track your brush head usage, it will let you know when it's time to swap.

Why Replace Toothbrush Every 3 Months?

No matter what type of toothbrush you use, its bristles become frayed and worn out over time. Worn bristles lose their effectiveness in keeping your teeth clean, and leave dental plaque (bacteria) behind. Moreover, frayed bristles can harm your gums.

To maintain your oral hygiene, you should replace your toothbrush every 3 months. In fact, clinical research shows that a new toothbrush can remove more plaque than one that's worn out, ensuring that your toothbrush is doing its best to keep your teeth clean and healthy.

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