Change your toothbrush - a practical anniversary for a change

I've been sharing many of Japan's daily anniversaries and observances over the last few months. Most of them aren't practical, they either serve as a commemoration or a hidden marketing ploy. But one of the anniversaries of February 8th, and the 8th of every month, is a practical type of anniversary to have. 

Toothbrush Replacement Day 歯ブラシ交換デー serves as a reminder that toothbrushes should be changed frequently. It was established by Lion Corporation, the Tokyo based company known for producing oral products. I am sure the creation of the anniversary wasn't completely altruistic, but they didn't put their brand name in the title of the anniversary, so not everyone would know that Lion established the anniversary. However, no doubt, by creating the anniversary and reminding people to buy new toothbrushes results in an increase in their product sales, as one of the most dominant brands on supermarket and drug store shelves. They chose the 8th, because the Japanese word for tooth, ha, is one of the readings of the number 8.

The general recommendation from dental professionals, including the American Dental Association (ADA), is to replace your toothbrush or toothbrush head every three to four months. However, according to LION, a toothbrush used for a full month begins to show splayed bristles. In fairness, in Japan people brush their teeth three times a day, which is one more time than the global average, which means more wear and tear.