{"id":13695,"date":"2019-12-04T16:41:03","date_gmt":"2019-12-04T16:41:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/?p=13695"},"modified":"2026-01-08T19:39:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T19:39:07","slug":"should-you-replace-your-brush-when-sick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/2019\/12\/04\/should-you-replace-your-brush-when-sick\/","title":{"rendered":"Should You Replace Your Toothbrush After Sickness?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/AdobeStock_96062222__1537473256_35386-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Toothbrushes\" class=\"wp-image-13696\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/AdobeStock_96062222__1537473256_35386-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/AdobeStock_96062222__1537473256_35386-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/AdobeStock_96062222__1537473256_35386.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Well, it\u2019s that time of year again! Yes, of course the\nholidays are here, but it\u2019s also the season of sickness. Cold and flu germs are\neverywhere, and especially if you have kids, your household may be affected.\nAfter you get over your bug, you may be wondering whether or not you should\nreplace your toothbrush\u2014could you get infected again with germs from when you\nwere sick? Keep reading to learn the answer from an expert dentist in Arlington\nHeights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">To Replace or Not to Replace? No is the Answer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While it is very true that your toothbrush can harbor germs,\nit\u2019s incredibly unlikely that they\u2019ll infect you after a sickness if you\nhaven\u2019t replaced your brush. Because you\u2019re constantly exposed to bacteria,\ngerms, and other viruses just like the rest of the population, your immune\nsystem is able to prevent you from being sick constantly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What\u2019s even more important to understand is that your immune\nsystem responds to cold or flu by creating antibodies that fight against the\ninvading virus, which keeps you from catching the same illness twice. That\u2019s\nwhy you can rest assured that the chances are slim for getting sick once more\nif you don\u2019t replace your toothbrush. The best news is that you\u2019ll be saving\nyourself some money!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What You Should Do Instead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead of throwing your toothbrushes away every time you or\na family member gets the sneezes, follow these American Dental Association\nrecommendations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Replace your toothbrushes every 3 to 4 months or\nwhen the bristles become frayed. Kids may need more frequent replacements\nbecause they brush a little harder.<\/li><li>If you have an electric toothbrush, replace the\nhead every 3 to 4 months.<\/li><li>Those with compromised or weakened immune\nsystems should change out their toothbrushes more frequently.<\/li><li>Let your toothbrush airdry after each use\u2014don\u2019t\nstore it in an enclosed container.<\/li><li>Rinse your brush with tap water after using it\nand store it in an upright position.<\/li><li>Don\u2019t share toothbrushes. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notably, the ADA does not recommend using any disinfecting\nor sanitizing products for toothbrushes because they are ineffective and even\nsometimes dangerous. However, if you want to soak your toothbrush in\nantibacterial mouthwash after using it, you can. Although it\u2019s not proven to\nreduce germs, it won\u2019t hurt your smile. The best step you can take to ensure\nthat you\u2019re getting all of the benefits of your toothbrush is to monitor your\nbristles. When they start to fray, it\u2019s time for a replacement! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now that you know the truth about toothbrushes, are you\nready to brush your teeth with confidence? Keep this useful information in mind\nto help stay healthy while saving money!&nbsp;&nbsp;\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Westgate Dental Care, we have a team of 5 specialists who\ntreat patients of all ages. They understand the importance of a good at-home\noral healthcare routine, which is why they want you to know these pro\ntoothbrush maintenance tips. For any questions, they can be reached through\ntheir <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westgatedentalcare.net\/contact.html\">website<\/a>\nor by phone at (847) 577-7171. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Well, it\u2019s that time of year again! Yes, of course the holidays are here, but it\u2019s also the season of sickness. Cold and flu germs are everywhere, and especially if you have kids, your household may be affected. After you get over your bug, you may be wondering whether or not you should replace your [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13695","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Should I Replace My Toothbrush After Being Sick? | Westgate Dental Care<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Did you just get over a cold or have sick kids at home? 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