Today, with electric toothbrushes being used more and more in our daily life, it is important to maintain them to avoid infection and increase their longevity. Proper care is essential for your electric toothbrush to ensure your oral health. It may actually seem amusing that the very tool used to clean your teeth needs cleaning. 


Electric toothbrushes with regular use, over time, can harbour bacteria from the mouth. Also, over time, using toothpaste on an electric toothbrush can result in a layer of hardened toothpaste. Hence, a proper disinfecting routine needs to be followed.


Maintaining Electric Toothbrushes

Regular Cleaning

Cleaning the toothbrush’s replaceable heads under running hot water, before and after use every day, is the first basic step to cleaning a rechargeable toothbrush. This immediately gets rid of bacteria collected in the hours between brushing and after brushing. It is also advised to soak electric brushes for about 2 minutes in an antibacterial mouthwash, hydrogen peroxide, or denture cleanser to sanitize the toothbrush.

The automatic toothbrush’s cover or storage container can get bacteria from the toothbrush. Hence, ensure to clean the covers and containers at least once every 2 weeks. It is recommended to let the electric toothbrush bristles dry before covering, as a wet toothbrush can also lead to bacteria growth.


Head Replacement

As a general rule, you need to change the brush head every 3 months for electric toothbrushes for adults and electric toothbrushes for kids. Use of the replaceable heads is also recommended under the following circumstances:

  • Worn-out Bristles: For effective cleaning, bent or frayed bristles need to be replaced.
  • If You Are Sick: If you are surfing from a contagious disease, like strep throat or the flu, it is advised to replace your electric brush to avoid the spread of infection.
  • On Sharing a Toothbrush: As everyone’s mouth has different bacteria, it is recommended to change the electric toothbrush head immediately as it can never be completely disinfected by cleaning.

Battery Optimization

Before the first use, the electric toothbrush needs to be fully charged. This can take anywhere between 10 and 14 hours. Overcharging batteries can also shorten their lifespan. To maximize the lifespan of a rechargeable toothbrush battery, make sure the charge is drained out before recharging it. Most electric toothbrushes come with LED charging indicators. 

Also, it is recommended to unplug the battery charger when not in use to maximise its operational life. Always use the charger or charging base provided with the electric toothbrush. Once fully charged, the charge lasts up to 10 days in most cases.


As Electric Toothbrushes take good care of the teeth, it is important to take care of the electric toothbrush. To keep your healthiest smile, it is essential to make sure the toothbrush is well maintained.