Daily care for your teeth is absolutely necessary for maintaining good health and a great smile. The simplest and most popular way to do this is by brushing your teeth at least once a day. After choosing a toothbrush, it is very important to know how to take care of it in order to get the most out of your purchase.

Keep it Clean
It sounds a bit silly, but for your toothbrush to keep you clean, you have to clean your toothbrush. After you have brushed your teeth, run your toothbrush under the sink so that any leftover particles or toothpaste are washed off of the bristles.  To ensure that it is clean, you can run your toothbrush through the dishwasher every now and then. If you ever travel and need to pack your toothbrush, find a cover that fits around the head of your toothbrush, but still has ventilation for air to get to the bristles; the lack of air can result in bacteria forming.

Keep it Dry
It is very important to clean your toothbrush regularly, but it is almost as important to keep it dry. You still should use mouthwash, toothbrush sanitizer, or a dishwasher, but not for extended periods of time. If it is not allowed to dry, harmful bacteria and mold could grow in the moist environment of your toothbrush. These bacteria could make the process of brushing your teeth more harmful than helpful. Always store your toothbrush upright and away from other brushes so that gravity can help the moisture drain out of the bristles.

Use Good Technique
How you brush your teeth is just as important as the care you give your toothbrush when storing it. When brushing, use short, gentle strokes instead of hard strokes so that the bristles do not fray. Do not chew or bite your toothbrush while it is in your mouth because this can also cause fraying and some bristles might be torn out by your teeth and could get stuck in between them. Move the brush quickly around your teeth to cover all areas including the interior of your teeth and your tongue along with the front of your teeth.

Replace Regularly
Even if you follow all of these steps, your toothbrush shouldn’t be used forever. Most dentists recommend that you replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months on average. If you or someone in your house gets sick or you have a weak immune system, it wouldn’t be bad if you replaced your toothbrush every month.