How to clean your electric toothbrush – eight tips to keep a sparkling smile

Queen of Clean reveals how she cleans her toothbrush

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Dental hygiene is important and an electric toothbrush can really help when maintaining healthier teeth and gums. You must avoid being too aggressive when brushing with an electric toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes are very effective at removing trapped dirt, as well as keeping tooth decay and gum disease at bay. These toothbrushes have a brush head that vibrates, utilising micro-movements that enable the bristles to access hard to reach areas between the teeth.

How to clean your electric toothbrush

Electric toothbrushes are used to clean your teeth, but after time they can begin to smell and become grimy.

You need to regularly clean your electric toothbrush to keep it in the best shape to clean your teeth effectively.

Cleaning your electric toothbrush just once a month can help extend the lifespan of your toothbrush.

Daily maintenance

Every day you should make an effort to rinse your toothbrush with tap water after use to remove all toothpaste and debris.

You should also take steps to avoid over brushing with your toothbrush.

If you avoid putting too much pressure with your toothbrush, you can prevent wearing down the bristles on your toothbrush head making them less effective when cleaning.

Try to store your toothbrush in an upright position and allow it to air dry.

Deeper cleaning

Toothbrush head

You should replace your toothbrush head every three months or once the bristles begin to fade or fray.

To give your toothbrush head a deeper clean, once a month you should create a cleaning solution with one part bleach to 10 parts water.

Submerge your toothbrush head completely in this solution, making sure to wear cleaning gloves when you touch the cleaning solution.

Soak your toothbrush head for around an hour to get rid of any germs.

Thoroughly rinse off your toothbrush head with water and then wipe it down.

Allow your toothbrush head to air dry to avoid growing mould or mildew.

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Toothbrush handle

When it comes to cleaning your toothbrush handle, you should begin by rubbing a cloth dipped in bleach water over your handle.

Your bleach solution should be one part bleach to 10 parts water.

Run the bleached cloth across the handle and try to focus on any areas which have mould or water buildup.

Make sure to always unplug your toothbrush before you begin cleaning it and wear gloves when working with bleach.

You should wipe the metal post which attaches to the toothbrush head with a cloth.

If a cloth does not clean the area thoroughly enough, use a cotton swab dipped in the bleach mixture to clean the crevices.

Next, use a cloth on the base of your toothbrush to clean away water and toothpaste buildup.

Wipe your toothbrush handle to dry it thoroughly.

You should never submerge the body of your toothbrush in water because it can lead to an electric shock.

Tips to keep a sparkling white smile with your electric toothbrush

  1. Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle with a little pressure
  2. Brush each tooth for around five seconds.
  3. Do not move your toothbrush too much, instead spend time on each tooth before moving on
  4. Floss before brushing
  5. Do not rinse your mouth out before brushing
  6. Avoid using fluoridated toothpaste
  7. Do not use too much pressure when brushing your teeth.
  8. Make sure to brush your teeth for two minutes.

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