Do you change your toothbrush every 3 months? No? You should. Here's why.

Many people do not change their toothbrush often enough.  I briefly mentioned the Colgate Invisible Nasties campaign a few weeks ago when I wrote about keeping germs at home and not in school.

I want to talk a little bit more about toothbrushes, and germs.  Or, as Colgate calls them, Invisible Nasties.  Grossed out yet?  Keep reading.  


Really.  Keep reading.  

 Dentists recommend that you change your toothbrush every three months. Studies show that after three months of normal wear and tear toothbrushes are much less effective at removing plaque from teeth and gums.

Which means, your toothbrush isn't getting rid of the nasties after a few months.  So you are brushing, but not as well as you could and should be.  Instead, the Invisible Nasties are having a party in your mouth and inviting extra friends.  


Colgate offers these tips to keep your toothbrush (and you!) healthy:

To keep your toothbrush and yourself healthy:

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  Make sure you let your toothbrush dry out between uses.

  
  


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  After using your toothbrush, shake it vigorously under tap water and store it in an upright position so that it can air out.

  
  


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  To prevent cold and flu viruses from being passed between brushes, try to keep your toothbrush from touching others when it is stored.

  
  

  
  
  
  
  I also want to remind you that if you have a cold, the flu, a virus, or other ailment- CHANGE YOUR TOOTHBRUSH!!  Seriously!  That's bringing more germs to the party.  Those are NOT the guests you want to include on your A list, is it?  I didn't think so.  
  
  
  If you are forgetful, like me, you can even sign up on the Colgate site for email reminders to change your toothbrush.  
  
  
  You can almost always find a sale on a toothbrush.  You can also almost always find a coupon for a toothbrush.  Many times you can find a toothbrush on sale that you have a coupon FOR, and that's when you want to stock up so that should there be an illness in your house, you can toss the old ones and bring out the new.  
  
  Especially with school starting in a few weeks (or now, I guess some areas are already in school?!) this is one EASY, simple way to at least keep extra germs from spreading.
  
  

  
  

I am writing this post as part of a paid campaign I am participating in with Colgate and Collective Bias. Opinions expressed within are my won. 

Source: http://thismamalovesherbargains.blogspot.com/2010/08/do-you-change-your-toothbrush-every-3.html