Nowadays, almost 50%-60% of the American population uses electric toothbrushes to do more effective cleaning, and they are also more convenient. They have a long warranty. You just need to replace their brush head after some time. One of the most popular brands of an electric toothbrush is Sonicare which has a warranty of two to three years, and you can use the same handle for more than three years by just replacing brush heads. You may question how often I need to replace brush heads and how I can do it. For this purpose, we will discuss how often to change toothbrush heads Sonicare.
How often to Change Sonicare Toothbrush Head
The most adequate answer to this query is three months. This is the most appropriate time limit to change toothbrush heads. At the same time, you need to change your manual toothbrush.
You can replace the toothbrush head sooner, maybe in two months, if you see visible signs of wearing or damaged bristles. If you use brush head longer than three months, you’re probably at risk of oral ailments that start from plaque and end at tooth loss.
Some Opinions on Changing Brush Heads
The different foundation suggests a different timeline for changing brush, such as NHS in the UK and oral health foundation offer three months while some recommend replacing it with two months.
Despite the difficulty, in my opinion, the timeline is between 2 to 4 months, and being on the safe side, you should replace it after three months. It is also ok if you use it for a week or two for more than 12 weeks.
How often Should I Replace Sonicare Heads and Why?
You can replace it after three months, just like any other toothbrush. Sonicare comes with different brush heads for compensating for different bristles that may belong while others may be short. They may be angled or straight.
The nylon bristles of Sonicare brush heads can withstand a longer duration of repeated movements. However, every product has an expiry time, and when the expiry date of nylon bristles arrives, those bristles become super soft and split into pieces.
Just consider the example of your favorite shoes. You may wear your favorite shoes daily for a year maximum, but after that time, your shoe fabric will be torn down, its glue will loosen, and you have to replace it. Or take the example of clothes even if you don’t wear the same clothes daily you have to replace them after some time so how can you expect your brush to work for a lifetime.
In the case of clothes and shoes, you may wait for them to wear off as they will not affect your health, but in the case of toothbrushes, it will adversely affect your oral health, and you will be at risk of tooth loss.
Suppose you apply more pressure on your teeth, then it may wear off soon, like just in a month or two. You can just look at the bristles of Sonicare heads and question yourself if they look similar to the new one or are they giving the same cleaning effect.
How do you know it’s Time to Replace your Sonicare Head?
Now you know that the recommended time to replace Sonicare brush heads is three months, but this may be due to inappropriate brushing techniques your brush head bristles wear soon. Also, you may forget when you last change your brush heads.
You may mark the date on the calendar or paste a sticky note with the date on it when you last replaced your brush head. Most people also are not used to this, so to help such people, Sonicare includes time indicator bristles. Most models have blue-colored bristles; these are dark blue in the beginning and eventually fade out to white or light blue color. This will be your guide to changing the brush head.
Why do bristles wear out?
- The most common reason is usage. You are using a thing, and of course, it will deteriorate with time because of usage.
- Brushing with too much pressure damages the bristles. Remember, you don’t need to scrub with a brush. Just do it gently.
- Wrong brushing techniques also lead to early bristle wear
You can prevent early bristle wear or slow down the process and use the brush for almost 3-4 months if you make sure that
- You keep your toothbrush in a safe place where it is not exposed to bacteria or doesn’t come in contact with another brush head. You can keep your Sonicare brush in its charging handle
- Don’t use the brush with too much pressure
- Always make sure to clean the brush after using
- Wash it once with vinegar rinse in a week
- Don’t keep it in a closed container. It will provide an ideal environment for bacteria to grow.
- Also, never share your brush with anyone if you want it to last longer.
Why should you not use a toothbrush for more than three months?
Most of you may question why it is necessary to change your brush head every three months, so here are the risks if you don’t change your brush head after three months.
The Bristles Get Worn
After brushing each time, your brush is exposed to water and chemicals from the toothbrush, and as a result, bristles become weak until a time arrives when they bend into a new shape, and this condition is known as bristle flaring.
The bent bristles will lose their stiffness and also their functional ability. Worn-out bristles will be harsher on your gums and can lead to gum inflammation and gum recession.
Also, for proper cleaning, the bristle angle must be appropriate; otherwise, your brushing goals will not be achieved, and brushing will cause more harm than benefit.
Bacteria Buildup
Another reason for not using a toothbrush for more than three months is excessive bacterial deposition on the toothbrush. We all know that we brush our teeth to prevent plaque and bacteria deposition, and the bacteria from teeth are deposited on the toothbrush. After three months, the brush head is heavily loaded with dangerous bacteria that can’t even be removed using vinegar rinse or other cleaning methods. For your safety, change the brush head after three months.
Saving Money
Most of you think that changing your brush head will cost you money and may upset your budget. Still, if you don’t change your toothbrush, you are at risk of halitosis, gingivitis, canker sores, oral thrush, periodontitis, gingivitis, and even tooth loss. To prevent a significant loss of money and resources. Change your brush head after three months.