REPLACE BRUSH AFTER YOU’VE HAD A COLD

THE recommendations about of how often you need to change your toothbrush or brush head vary, but typically changing them every three to six months is about right, say dentists.

‘However, when you’ve been sick with cold or flu, or if you’ve had a mouth or throat infection, you should replace your toothbrush even if it’s new,’ says periodontist Dr Reena Wadia. This is because while you can’t catch the same cold virus twice, your bugs can spread to bathroom surfaces or other nearby toothbrushes, putting other family members at risk.