Yesterday Brenna noticed my toothbrush was looking kind of ratty. “When was the last time you changed your toothbrush? How old is this one?” she asked. I told her I had no idea. “This toothbrush has no proper bristles anymore! Oh you.”
She left the room and came back a minute later and handed me a shiny new Oral B Advantage toothbrush. “Here you go. It’s red. Your favorite color. Not Ferrari Red but close enough.”
Every Christmas time when I was growing up my mom would give me a new toothbrush. She was good like that. Yet somehow it taught me not to worry about it. It taught me that ‘someone’ will take care of it and therefore I just don’t.
(There is perhaps something to be said here about how us boys would be lost without our women to take care of us…)
How often should you change out your toothbrush? The ADA recommends that consumers replace their toothbrush approximately every 3 to 4 months or sooner if the bristles become frayed with use. Thing is I believe most all the industries are in bed together to get consumers to spend more money. We all know you do not need to change your car’s oil every 3,000 miles right? Yet no one really comes out and says that in so many words. Except Edmunds.com. They say so here. Certainly not the oil companies. Certainly not the oil change shops. If they keep the consumer thinking you must change it every 3,000 miles maybe you will. Cha-ching. And diamonds? Don’t get me started on that. Anyway…
Later in the day when it was time to brush my teeth. It felt so good. There were no stragly bristles and they glided right over my teeth and gums while scrubbing away all the nasty cavity and disease causing nasties.
I really need to learn to change out my own toothbrush more often. Maybe I will get a new toothbrush when I change the clocks for daylight saving time which is also my reminder to change the smoke alarm batteries. Yes, that is a good idea because one thing is for sure- a new toothbrush sure is nice and healthy teeth and gums make for a really nice smile.
Tell us about your toothbrush. What color is it? Manual or electric? What brand do you like? Tell us in the comments below. I would love to hear from you.
(This post is not endorsed by or an endorsement for Oral B toothbrushes or any of their products. It just happens to be the brand of toothbrush we prefer to use. You might like them too.)