“Flip your calendar and flick your toothbrush.” Raquel Henson
Are you changing your toothbrush as often as you should? Maybe some of these dental facts will prompt you to at least take a look at your toothbrush!
This week I am pleased to introduce my very first guest post from Grace at Toothbrush Direct.
I hope this will be the first of many informative and inspiring guest posts for Leukandc.
Comment on this post and subscribe to leukandc.com for the chance to win some of the fantastic toothbrushes from Toothbrush Direct.
Ask most people and they probably couldn’t tell you when they last changed their toothbrush. In the past I would not have been able to tell you myself, until one day I went to visit a friend of mine and asked to use the bathroom. As I was washing my hands, I noticed that there was mould growing on his toothbrush. I exited the bathroom and proceeded to tell him that his toothbrush looked unsavory (to say the least). I told him I hoped that he wasn’t using that and that he had another brush he used in another bathroom. He told me he didn’t even realise there was mould growing on it. I asked him when he last changed his brush – “I don’t know, maybe 6 months ago” was the answer. I kindly suggested to him that he should really go out and buy a new one and throw that one in the bin.
I went home and inspected my own toothbrush as I wasn’t sure when I last replaced it myself. The bristles were a little frayed but at least it wasn’t mouldy. Fearful that it would become like my friend’s, I threw it out and made the trip out to the supermarket to buy a new one – a Colgate brush for around $6.
Over the next week, I did some research into toothbrushes and oral health in general, and found out some interesting facts from the World Health Organisation:
- Almost all adults have dental cavities
- Gum disease which may lead to the loss of teeth, is found in many adults
- Factors that lead to oral diseases include poor oral hygiene.
I then came across a few Australian studies and surveys. Studies have shown many Australian dental professionals recommend that patients replace their toothbrushes at least every 2-3 months.
23.8% of Australian dentists recommend their patients to change their toothbrushes at least every month (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1834-7819.2000.tb00260.x/abstract).
Toothbrushes lose their effectiveness as soon as they become frayed or show signs of wear.
Over time toothbrushes accumulate bacteria from:
- Coming in contact with our mouths (including saliva and blood) – our mouths harbour a vast amount of bacteria. A British study found that a single ordinary toothbrush was found to harbour 100 million germs – from rotting food particles that are stuck, germs that live in our saliva, etc.
- Sitting in the bathroom – even more so if your brush is located near your toilet. A study found that each time you flush the toilet, bacteria break down in the air in the form of tiny particles and they can travel up to 20 feet.
Read more on: http://gt100australia.com.au/images/toothbrush_germ_theory.pdf
I became really passionate about oral health and in ensuring that my family and friends replace their toothbrushes often enough. A few months later, I started a company called Toothbrush Direct with a friend of mine. Through www.ToothbrushDirect.com.au, clients can subscribe to have FRESH toothbrushes sent to their door each month.
The benefits of this service are:
- You don’t have to worry about when you last replaced your toothbrush and keeping track of it – we’ll do that for you
- You don’t have to worry about over-accumulated bacteria on your current brush from not replacing it often enough
- You don’t have to leave the house to buy toothbrushes anymore – or remembering to buy one when you’re at the supermarket
- High quality and professionally designed toothbrushes to you monthly at $3.85 (including GST and shipping!). The price per brush decreases, the more brushes you order for your household. Go to www.ToothbrushDirect.com.au/get-started-now to check out the pricing structure.
- Brushes are professionally designed and made to meet strict FDA and ISO international standards
I think you will find Toothbrush Direct really beneficial and convenient, so please check out the website and let me know what you think! You can also like us on www.facebook.com/ToothbrushDirect.
Thank you Grace for your insight into dental health.
Remember to comment and subscribe to Leukandc for your chance to win some new toothbrushes from Toothbrush Direct.
Good Health and Wellness Always.
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DISCLAIMER
The content of my blog is based on personal experience. Any information provided otherwise will include
* links to sites I find to be useful or informative
* good books I have read.
* Research papers
If you have any medical issues please seek medical advice.
As always if you have any questions about any of the information I post on my blog, or would like to share your story, please contact me and I would be more than happy to hear from you.
