Manky electric toothbrush - when to replace?

[crystalclearly]

I took the head off of DS’s electric toothbrush to replace it and it was VILE, the metal bit underneath is rusted and there was crust and black stuff all over. (It’s an Oral B children’s electric toothbrush). I do change the head with some regularity (3-4 months) so I’m not sure why it’s suddenly gone so foul, but I should just toss it, right? I’ve tried to clean the rust and muck off but no joy. He’s had it for a couple of years now.

Why are you even asking?

Replace when it goes manky 🤷‍♀️

Presumably you've not been removing the toothbrush head, and rinsing both the head and the toothbrush after each use?

No definitely not removing the head after each use, is that what most people do??

We don’t have electric but I’d hazard a guess that they should be disposed of just before they get manky!!

Yes, although partly because we share one toothbrush with multiple heads

Yeah you have to take the head off to rinse or all the spit and stuff gathers underneath and it goes all manky and gross. Then dry the metal part to stop it rusting. A scourer should get it up clean.

Well I can't speak for everybody, but that's what I've always done.

This is what Oral-B suggest:
www.oralb.co.uk/en-gb/oral-health/why-oral-b/electric-toothbrushes/how-to-clean-electric-toothbrush

Yes!!! Otherwise it goes rank like bath toys with holes in them

Worth a new one. Mine was ok but I had it a few years, got a new one and really noticed the difference as the tech had changed so much

The “manky” element should give you a clue there op.

I don't. But I rinse it (intact) under the very hot tap everytime & take the head off and rinse it all separately periodically. It never gets 'manky' - but I'm not a kid. I'd wash/rinse a kids one for them whenever I thought about it. Probably daily as they should still be supervised until they're 8, brushing teeth.

EDIT: I forgot to say, if I saw any rust etc I'd replace it immediately, I'd also be teaching to child to remove the head & rinde it each time.

Yes separate, rinse and dry every use. The body of our toothbrush must be 15+yrs old and is still going strong!

Yes, you need to rinse inside it.

The first electric tooth brush I had I didn't remove the head after use. And the metal bit where the head attaches went rusty.
So I had to get a new one.
So now I always take the head off after I've used the brush and dry the metal bit with a piece of toilet tissue. And keep the head off till next use.

Er, yes! Remove head, rinse and wipe down toothbrush. Every night.