Happy Toothbrush Day! Every June 26, dentists and oral health aficionados around the world come together to celebrate the humble toothbrush. While the shape, materials and technology contained within these versatile tools have evolved over time, humans have been cleaning our teeth with toothbrushes for thousands of years. For this year’s Toothbrush Day, we wanted to go over five handy toothbrush tips to get the best use out of every dentist’s favourite invention.

1. Follow the 2-2-2 rule

Our first tip is also the most important to keeping your teeth bright and healthy. The 2-2-2 rule is simple:  

• Brush your teeth two times a day

• Brush for two minutes at a time

• Visit your dentist two times a year for a cleaning and checkup

Follow the 2-2-2 rule and you’ll build a solid foundation for a lifetime of good oral health.  

2. Choose a soft-bristled brush

Your enamel, the hard protective coating that protects your teeth, is extremely tough. Even it, however, is susceptible to damage from excessive wear. When choosing a toothbrush, make sure you’re picking a soft-bristled brush to minimize enamel erosion and stick to cleaning away mouth bacteria instead. Speaking of protecting your enamel, our next tip is to...

3. Avoid brushing too hard

Similarly to using a softer brush bristle, it’s important to not press too hard while brushing. Brushing too hard can also cause enamel damage after repeated exposure over time, leaving your teeth sensitive and at risk of decay or cavities. If you’re worried about brushing too firmly without noticing, many electric toothbrushes have pressure sensors that will alert you if you’re applying too much pressure.

4. Swap your brush regularly

To make sure your brush stays bacteria-free, we recommend changing brushes or brush heads every 3–4 months or at the first sign of wear. That is, unless you’re using our favourite toothbrush: The Curaprox toothbrush! In addition to other benefits – like an ergonomic design, a large amount of bristles compared to typical toothbrushes and a more effective cleaning surface – Curaprox toothbrushes are made of polyester, making the lifespan of a Curaprox toothbrush much longer than the average 3–4 months. They can last about a year before needing to be replaced.  

5. Don’t share your toothbrush

Toothbrushes are used to clean bacteria off your teeth, but they also have plenty of bacteria on them as well. We’ve talked before about cavities being contagious, and one of the primary ways that cavities can be “transmitted” from mouth to mouth is spreading that bacteria by trying someone else’s drink, kissing or sharing a toothbrush. To keep your bacteria to yourself, make sure to keep your toothbrush away from anyone else’s mouth (and vice-versa). In fact, you should be storing them separately too so that the toothbrush heads aren’t touching.

If you’re looking for other tips to keeping your smile happy, healthy and bright, your regular six-month checkup and cleaning is the best time to ask! Booking an appointment is simple, just use the orange “Book Online” button and we’ll see you in our chair soon.

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