The snow is snowing, the wind is blowing, and you’re watching the icicles form—and the last thing on your mind right now is probably the state of your toothbrush. But it’s time to start paying attention, because doctors and dentists agree that there are health benefits to swapping out your toothbrush more often during the winter months, thanks to the return of seasonal illnesses. Here’s everything you need to know about how cold weather can affect your oral health and what that means for your toothbrush habits.
Winter weather brings colds and flu
Winter is a time of colds, flu, and other respiratory illnesses. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, this is because cold weather and long nights bring more people indoors, where viruses are more easily transmitted from person to person. Moreover, cold and dry air may weaken immune resistance. According to the Cleveland Clinic, every flu season, between 20 and 40 million Americans catch the bug.
The flu and your toothbrush
So, what do all these influenza germs going around have to do with your toothbrush? Well, every time you put your toothbrush in your mouth, you’re potentially introducing the influenza germs to an attractive new home. While you’re unlikely to reinfect yourself thanks to the immunity your body just worked so hard to develop, you risk spreading the disease to other members of your household.
Bacterial illnesses are a different story, however. Bacteria can live longer than viruses outside the body, increasing the risk of reinfection. Moreover, the body doesn’t develop immunity to bacteria as readily as it does to viruses. So, if you’ve recently gotten over a seasonal bacterial infection like pneumonia or strep throat, you might want to toss your old toothbrush and replace it immediately.
As a general rule, dentists recommend that you swap out your toothbrush every three months or so—once a season. However, you might want to consider buying a second toothbrush this winter and swapping your current one out after six weeks.
Follow general toothbrush best-practices
It’s always a good time to have a refresher on toothbrush care. Here’s what you need to know:
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Swap out your toothbrush every three to four months without fail
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Replace your brush whenever you’ve gotten over a bacterial infection or taken antibiotics
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Always air dry your toothbrush between uses to discourage bacterial growth
You may have heard that microwaving your toothbrush or exposing it to UV rays will kill germs and increase its lifespan. However, there is no science backing this up.
Schedule your next check-up with Babylon Dental Care
It’s the new year, and that means it’s time for new resolutions—like scheduling your next dental check-up early! Babylon Dental Care is proud to serve our patients in the Great South Bay shopping center in West Babylon and the Gateway Plaza shopping center in Patchogue, and we’d love to see you at either of our convenient locations. Contact us today to schedule your next tooth cleaning, cosmetic procedure, or emergency care, and let us treat you like family.
