How Often to Replace an Electric Toothbrush Head: 5 Signs

If you are wondering how often to replace electric toothbrush head bristles, the general guidance is about every three months. Some heads wear out sooner, depending on how firmly you brush and how often. Once the bristles lose their shape, they clean less effectively, however good the brush itself is.

Here are the signs to look for, when to swap sooner, and how to make it a habit you do not have to remember.

The short answer: about every three months

Replacing your toothbrush head roughly every three months is standard oral health guidance, and it applies to electric and manual brushes alike. An electric toothbrush head works hard: twice a day, every day, with toothpaste and water. Over a few months the bristles soften, splay and stop reaching the gumline and the gaps between teeth properly.

Three months is a guide, not a rule. Check the bristles and replace sooner if you see any of the signs below.

Five signs your toothbrush head needs replacing

1. The bristles are frayed or splayed. When bristles bend outwards instead of standing straight, they can no longer hold the right angle against your teeth and gumline.
2. Your teeth do not feel as clean. If you finish brushing and your teeth still feel furry or gritty, a worn head is a common cause. Our article on why teeth feel dirty after brushing covers other reasons too.
3. You have recently been unwell. After a cold, flu or mouth infection, a fresh head is a sensible precaution.
4. It has been three months or more. Even if it looks fine, bristles lose stiffness and shape gradually.
5. The head is discoloured or has buildup. Toothpaste residue or discolouration around the base of the bristles is a sign the head is past its best.

When to replace your head sooner

• You brush firmly. Heavier pressure wears bristles faster. If your heads splay within weeks, try a lighter touch and let the brush do the work.
• You brush more than twice a day, for example after lunch at work.
• The head was dropped somewhere unhygienic or used by someone else.
• You have braces or other dental appliances, which can wear bristles more quickly.

Keeping your head clean between changes

Good care will not extend a head beyond its life, but it keeps it hygienic while you use it:

• Rinse the bristles thoroughly under running water after each brush.
• Shake off excess water and store the brush upright to air dry.
• Avoid covering a wet head with a cap or sealed case for long periods.
• Every week or so, remove the head and rinse where it joins the brush.
• Never share heads, even within a household.

For more on keeping your brush clean, read our article on how to clean an electric toothbrush.

Make replacing heads automatic

The easiest way to replace heads on time is not to rely on memory at all.

• PulseONE Heads 2-pack: A$29. A 2-pack covers six months at one head every three months.
• Head Plan: sends fresh heads on a schedule, so a new one arrives when it is due.
• Colour matching: White heads suit Platinum and Rose. Graphite heads suit Graphite.
• Two head types: Precision Clean for everyday cleaning and Gentle Touch for sensitive teeth. Both come in the PulseONE box.

PulseONE heads fit PulseONE only, so check which brush you have before you order.

Questions

What happens if I do not replace my toothbrush head?

Worn bristles clean less effectively, so more plaque can stay behind, especially along the gumline. Over time that can contribute to irritated gums and a less clean feel. Replacing the head is a small cost that keeps your brush working as it should.

Can I disinfect an old head and keep using it?

Rinsing keeps a head hygienic day to day, but cleaning cannot restore worn bristles. Once they have lost their shape, the head needs replacing.

Should I replace the head after being sick?

It is a sensible precaution after a cold, flu or mouth infection. A fresh head is inexpensive and gives you a clean start.

Do sonic toothbrush heads wear out faster?

Sonic heads follow the same three month guide as other electric toothbrush heads. How fast yours wears depends mostly on how firmly you brush.

Fresh heads for PulseONE

Keep your PulseONE cleaning as it did on day one with PulseONE replacement heads and the Head Plan. Designed in Australia, matched to your finish, and delivered when you need them.