Know how to take care of your electric toothbrush to extend its health benefits

Dentists often recommend electric toothbrushes to patients because they make it easier to clean your gums, teeth and places that are difficult to reach. The rotating bristles vibrate, applying just the right amount of pressure to remove plaque. Plus the built-in timer indicates how long each brushing should last.

This style of toothbrush can work wonders for your dental health. The upfront cost is slightly more than that of manual ones. However, with proper care, it?ll last you for many years. You?ll only need to replace the heads, which are inexpensive.

Learning how to take care of your electric toothbrush will maximize its lifespan and ensure you get optimum clean every time you brush. Follow these tips to keep your smile bright and healthy.

Daily care

Be careful not to overbrush. Applying more pressure than necessary causes the bristles to bend sooner and reduces their effectiveness. After each use, rinse the brush under tap water until toothpaste, saliva and bacteria are gone from between the bristles. When finished, place it upright on a stable surface so it can air-dry.

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Households tend to store everyone?s toothbrushes in the same location. This is okay, but make sure they are spaced far enough apart so they don?t touch each other. Shelves in dry spaces with good ventilation are ideal. Moist environments like bathroom cabinets or drawers are the worst places as they promote the growth of bacteria.

Regular maintenance

Knowing how to take care of your electric toothbrush is simple if you can remember a few basic facts about teeth. As with any other style, once the bristles start to fray, replace the heads. If you?re brushing properly this should time out to about every three months.
Before using it for the first time, it should be fully charged. Depending on your brand, this can take as long as 16 hours.

In order to keep the battery running strong, only charge it when the power is completely out. Then re-charge until full and repeat. There?s no need to keep it plugged in whenever you?re not brushing, that?s a waste of power and its bad for the battery life.

Sanitize

In addition to rinsing the bristles after every use, the heads should get a deeper cleaning at least once a month. Wipe the entire toothbrush clean with a damp cloth. Then remove the head and soak it in a mixture of water and toothbrush sanitizer. 

Sanitizer kills more than 99 percent of the bacteria that grows on toothbrushes and comes on tablet form that dissolves in water. If you can?t find sanitizing tablets, antiseptic mouthwash works as well. Other options, like soaking the heads in boiling water or cleaning them in the dishwasher, work but they also wear the bristles down sooner.

While the head soaks, dip a cotton swab in the mix and clean the joint where the head attaches to the rest of the brush. This only takes a minute and will keep bacteria from building up. 

The natural chemical-free approach to disinfecting is just as effective. You?ll need a half cup of water, two teaspoons of baking soda and about two tablespoons of vinegar. Soak the heads in this mixture for at least half an hour.

It can?t go without mentioning that no brushes should ever be shared. You wouldn?t let a friend borrow a manual brush. Don?t lend them the head from your electric one either!

Remembering how to take care of your electric toothbrush is easy, especially once you see how much cleaner it keeps your mouth. As with manual ones, dentists recommend each brushing take at least two minutes twice a day to maintain healthy teeth and gums.