To avoid the buildup of bacteria, the American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush

To avoid the buildup of bacteria, the American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush every month.

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The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush every three to four months, sooner if the bristles are frayed. The ADA's main reason for replacement is to make sure your toothbrush is in good working order -- not because of bacteria. Although the group acknowledges that "various microorganisms can grow on toothbrushes after use," they maintain that there is "insufficient clinical evidence to support that bacterial growth on toothbrushes will lead to specific adverse health effects."