How to choose a toothbrush
Maintaining good oral hygiene plays an important role in a person’s overall health. Toothbrushes are, of course, an integral part of oral hygiene, but which toothbrush is the best?
When choosing a toothbrush, it is important to consider the type of bristles, the general shape of the brush, quality and convenience.
First of all, you should decide what kind of shield you need. Classic (manual or manual) or electric?
Maintaining good oral hygiene plays an important role in a person’s overall health. Toothbrushes are, of course, an integral part of oral hygiene, but which toothbrush is the best?
When choosing a toothbrush, it is important to consider the type of bristles, the general shape of the brush, quality and convenience.
First of all, you should decide what kind of shield you need. Classic (manual or manual) or electric?
Manual (manual) toothbrushes – what to pay attention to when choosing
Most dentists believe that soft bristles are best. Although it may seem that hard bristles clean teeth better.
Stiff bristles can damage teeth and gums while brushing.
The soft bristles are especially beneficial for people with sensitive teeth or gum recession (a disease in which the gum tissue atrophies and recedes, exposing the roots of the teeth).
Another factor to consider is the tips of the bristles. The bristles of the toothbrush should have rounded tips to gently clean the teeth and prevent damage to the teeth and gums.
When it comes to the shape of the brush head, there is no perfect shape that works best. Whether you choose an oval or rectangular toothbrush, the best choice for you will be the one that fits more comfortably in your mouth. The same applies to the handle of the toothbrush. Make sure you choose a toothbrush that is comfortable to hold and easy to maneuver.
After all, the best toothbrush for you is the one you will use regularly and correctly.
Although many electric toothbrushes have good recommendations and convincing statistics about their cleaning ability, manual toothbrushes can clean your teeth effectively.
Cost is another important factor to consider. An electric brush is more expensive. In addition to the upfront cost of such a brush, you’ll also have to replace the brush head every three months. If you are not ready to spend extra money or you just don’t like an electric toothbrush and the feeling in your mouth after it, then a manual toothbrush is the best option for you.
Care of the toothbrush and how often it should be changed
After use, the brush should be thoroughly rinsed with water to remove toothpaste residues and dirt. It is better to store the brush in an upright position in a well-ventilated place so that it can dry.
Avoid storing toothbrushes in closed containers, as a moist environment can promote the growth of bacteria.
It is important to change your toothbrush (or head for electric toothbrushes) every three months, or more often if the bristles are frayed or worn.
Over time, the bristles of the toothbrush can deteriorate, as a result of which it will be worse at removing plaque.
If you have had an illness, you should replace your toothbrush after recovery. Bacteria and viruses can remain on the bristles of the toothbrush and potentially lead to re-infection.
Electric toothbrushes
Electric toothbrushes are good for people who don’t brush as long or as thoroughly as they should. People with disabilities or arthritis may also benefit from electric toothbrushes as they make brushing easier.
Electric toothbrushes radically change the rules of oral hygiene, as they offer advanced cleaning technology. If a person moves an ordinary toothbrush, then in an electric one this function is performed by a motor, which, of course, is more powerful.
The rotating or oscillating bristle heads of electric toothbrushes perform rapid movements, providing a more consistent and thorough cleaning compared to manual toothbrushes. This improved cleaning action helps remove plaque and tartar more effectively, reducing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
Many electric toothbrushes often come with built-in timers to ensure you brush for the recommended amount of time. This feature encourages proper brushing and helps achieve optimal results every time.
Currently, there is a wide selection of electric toothbrushes. The simplest option is a mechanical one, which cleans teeth with the help of head movements.
The most common model is rotary, where the head with bristles rotates. There is also a pulsating brush: its head seems to pulsate, that is, it makes movements that simulate “sweeping”.
Sonic and ultrasonic electronic brushes are also sold. What is their specialty?
In sonic toothbrushes, the bristles perform downward and upward amplitude movements. The frequency of oscillations of the bristles is 18-40 thousand/min. The electromagnet swings the brush head with the help of a spring and a resonator with a frequency of up to 260 Hz. This frequency, combined with a special amplitude of oscillations of the bristles, forces the mixture of saliva and toothpaste to circulate in the mouth, as if washing the teeth from all sides. Such a mixture easily penetrates into hard-to-reach areas, destroys and washes away dental plaque.
You can buy a sonic toothbrush for a child, but you should choose a device with soft bristles and a delicate cleaning mode. People with sensitive teeth should also choose a model that has a delicate mode or an easy start function, when the power of the brush is weak at first, but increases over time.
Low-frequency sound waves are also completely safe for orthopedic devices.
Ultrasonic toothbrushes operate in the range of 20,000 Hz, and the frequency of bristles oscillations is up to 100 million/min. The power of ultrasound in such brushes can heat the gums by approximately 1 degree. A person does not feel this heat, but it is useful for the gums. Ultrasound destroys bacteria that form dental plaque, and pulsed movements of the brush contribute to high-quality cleaning of tooth enamel and improve blood circulation in the gum tissue.
These brushes are suitable for people who wear braces, but are not recommended for those who have had fillings, crowns or veneers installed. Ultrasound technology is used in dentistry, in particular, to destroy tartar and remove crowns or fillings. Therefore, daily use of such a brush can negatively affect dental structures.
Also, the ultrasonic brush should not be used during acute inflammation during infectious gum disease – tissue heating and increased blood circulation can cause harm.
If you are in doubt, or do not know which toothbrush to choose, contact your dentist, who will be able to advise you.
Earlier, we talked about how to brush your teeth correctly.