Wait, Should I Be Cleaning My Toothbrush? Experts Weigh In

Your toothbrush is a must-have tool for cleaning your mouth. But does it need to be cleaned? Happily, experts say this is one personal care to-do you don’t need to stress about, as long as you’re replacing your brush for a new one at regular intervals. But if you really want to do it, that’s okay too. Here are all the bristly deets.

How to clean your toothbrush

Good news: You don’t really have to do anything special to clean your toothbrush other than rinsing it after each brushing session and letting it air dry, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). “Most toothpastes already have a small amount of surfactant, or a foaming and cleaning agent, in the formula. Thus, it’s not typically necessary to use soap to wash a toothbrush between uses,” says Chrystle Cu, DDS and CEO of Cocofloss.

As for any germs that might be lingering on your brush—either from your mouth or wafting around the bathroom? They haven’t been shown to cause illness, and exposure to some microbes is goodfor oral health, the Cleveland Clinic notes. So seriously, you don’t need to stress about cleaning your toothbrush.

But if you want to go the extra mile, you can do a deep clean once a week by dunking it in hydrogen peroxide for a few minutes and rinsing thoroughly, says Marina Gonchar, DMD and owner of Skin to Smile in Morristown, NJ. According to the ADA, this has been shown to cut toothbrush bacterial load by around 85 percent. (Don’t bother sticking your toothbrush in boiling water or the microwave. You’ll disinfect it, but you also might melt it.)

How often should you clean your toothbrush?

Again, you should rinse your toothbrush under running water after each use to eliminate lingering food bits or toothpaste. You don’t need to do anything else, but if you like to be extra vigilant, Dr. Gonchar says you can clean it with hydrogen peroxide once a week or so.

What about electric toothbrush heads?

The same rules apply to electric toothbrush heads. “They should also be rinsed before and after each use and stored upright to dry in between uses,” Dr. Cu says.You don’t have to take any extra cleaning steps, but doing a quick hydrogen peroxide soak once a week for extra de-gunking is also okay. Just be sure to rinse it thoroughly with water before using it to brush, Dr. Gonchar notes.

When to replace your toothbrush

As the ADA recommends, you should get a new toothbrush or toothbrush head every three to four months. Replace your brush sooner if you notice that the bristles are starting to get matted or frayed since that can make them less effective, Dr. Cu says.

It’s also a good idea to replace your toothbrush after you’ve been sick—especially if you had an infection in your mouth. It’s the easiest way to ensure you don’t get reinfected or get another household member sick if they accidentally grab your toothbrush. Just buy a multipack of toothbrushes, keep it stashed in the medicine cabinet or under the sink, and grab a new one when needed. Easy.