[Oral Care Survey] Over 40% Use the Same Toothbrush for "2 Months or More," Showing a Tendency to "Postpone" Despite Knowing the Correct Replacement Guideline

Although it is a familiar item used every single day, the "toothbrush" is something we tend to forget when we last replaced it. Many people might just continue using the same one without thinking much about it. Therefore, "Medical Corporation Kizuna Kizuna Dental Clinic" (https://www.kizna-dc.com/) (Location: Kita-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture; Director: Takafumi Mizuno), which emphasizes dialogue with patients and provides a wide range of dental care from preventive dentistry to cosmetic treatment, conducted a survey of 716 men and women aged 20 to 69 nationwide to clarify the actual situation of consumers' toothbrush replacement. This survey revealed the difference between knowledge and actual behavior regarding toothbrush replacement, as well as the difference in tendencies depending on the presence or absence of regular check-ups. [TOPICS] - About 60% correctly recognize the replacement guideline as "about 1 month," and "2 months or more" is under 20%. - The percentage of people whose actual replacement cycle is "2 months or more" exceeds 40%. - The practice rate of "about 1 month" is about 1.6 times higher for those who receive regular check-ups compared to those who do not. *Please refer to the "Survey Outline" at the end of this release for details on the survey methodology. Main Survey Results 1. Recommended toothbrush replacement frequency (about 1 month): Correctly recognized by the majority at 58.2% Although toothbrushes are used daily, to what extent do consumers have correct knowledge about the appropriate replacement timing? The following graph shows the results of a question asking how people perceive the guideline for toothbrush replacement frequency recommended by dentists and dental hygienists. As a guideline for the recommended replacement frequency, the percentage of those who answered "about 1 month" was 58.2%, making it the most common choice. On the other hand, the total of "about 2-3 months (13.1%)" and "about half a year or more (3.6%)," representing those who perceive the guideline to be as long as "2 months or more," remained at 16.7%. Generally, in dental clinics, etc., replacing a toothbrush "once a month" is recommended from the perspective of maintaining hygiene and cleaning efficiency. From the survey results, it can be seen that the majority of consumers correctly grasp the guidelines recommended by experts, and many people are aware of basic knowledge regarding replacement timing. 2. The actual replacement cycle tends to be longer than the recognized guideline, with "2 months or more" reaching 43.6% So, how often do people actually replace their toothbrushes? Next, we asked about the actual toothbrush replacement cycle. Although "about once a month" was the most common at 39.7%, it falls significantly below the percentage of those who recognize the recommended guideline as "about 1 month." On the other hand, a combined 43.6% of people answered "about once every 2-3 months (32.7%)" and "about once every half a year or less (10.9%)," resulting in them continuing to use the same toothbrush for 2 months or more. Overall, there was a tendency for the actual replacement cycle to be longer than the recommended guideline held as knowledge. Although many people correctly grasp the appropriate timing for replacing a toothbrush, it seems that there are quite a few cases where they are unable to practice it as a daily habit. 3. The most common replacement criterion is "change in appearance" at 57.1%, while those who manage it by period remain at 21.3% What are the reasons behind the prolonged replacement cycle? Next are the results of a question asking what criteria are used to replace a toothbrush with a new one. While "changes in appearance such as frayed bristles" accounted for the majority at 57.1%, those who answered "when the cycle or date I decided has come" remained at 21.3%. This is followed by "the brushing feel/usability has worsened" at 10.0%. Generally, even if there is no change in appearance, the cleaning power of a toothbrush decreases after about 1 month of use, and bacteria also tend to propagate. Relying on sensory judgments such as changes in appearance rather than clear criteria based on the period may be a major factor in delaying the timing of replacement as a result. 4. Those who receive regular check-ups have a strong tendency to emphasize "period" Toothbrush replacement tends to be based on sensory judgments, but how does the habit of going to a dental clinic affect this awareness? The following graph shows the results of aggregating the same question as the previous section by the presence or absence of a regular check-up in the past year. Focusing on the percentage who answered "when the cycle or date I decided has come," it reached 27.5% among those who received regular check-ups, which is more than double that of those who did not (13.1%). In addition, the percentage who use "changes in appearance such as frayed bristles" as a criterion reached 67.5% among those who did not receive it, whereas it was lower at 50.4% among those who did. It can be seen that even among those who received regular check-ups, half still rely on appearance. On the other hand, compared to those who did not receive it, many people emphasize the clear criterion of a period rather than sensory changes, and regular check-ups foster awareness of correct self-care...