You Don’t Know What You’re Missing
The importance of good oral hygiene, not just for Dental Health but for your overall well-being, is often underestimated. Gum Disease is a directly linked as a major risk factor for serious health conditions; including diabetes and heart disease.
The type of toothbrush you use is of less importance than how you use your toothbrush. If you are not brushing properly, you have no idea what you might be missing. A disclosing solution was used on these teeth to display plaque that was missed and would not otherwise be seen visually.
The electric toothbrush has become very popular — some even say it provides superior dental care. But how does it actually compare to manual brushing? When brushing manually, we do about 300 strokes per minute. An electric toothbrush makes about 3,000 – 7500 brushing motions per minute and a Sonic toothbrush produces about 30,000 – 40,000 strokes per minute.
In actuality, any toothbrush you are comfortable using works well. Most people brush for less than a minute, but to effectively reach all areas of your mouth and scrub off cavity-causing bacteria, you should brush for at least two to three minutes, at least twice daily.
Let’s take a closer look at selecting either manual and powered toothbrushes:
When the nylon toothbrush was first introduced, consumers did not have many options. Now the story is completely different with an extensive selection of different types of toothbrushes.
The SIZE of the toothbrush head should allow you to easily reach all surfaces of your teeth; usually a brush head about a half inch wide and one inch tall will be the easiest and most effective. A larger brush head may make it difficult to maneuver into hard to reach areas. The handle should be long enough to comfortably hold in your hand.
Available also is a variety of BRISTLE TEXTURES. We recommend a SOFT BRISTLE, as this is the safest choice allowing you to avoid gum injury and tooth abrasion. We also advise a rounded tip.
Rechargeable Electric Toothbrushes have grown in popularity as they are rich in technology and features. The may also provide many oral health benefits and help you to improve your brushing habits.
Choose a model that has a TIMER to help you keep track of how long you brush.
BRISTLE TEXTURE should be soft with a rounded tip. Many models have pressure sensors to alert you when you are brushing to hard (you will notice a drag in the speed of the brush).
Electric toothbrushes can offer an added advantage for populations that have difficulty brushing. They may often be recommended for people with arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or other painful and movement-restricting conditions and for those wearing braces.
Choosing the right brush is ultimately a personal decision and one that should be guided by your dentist’s recommendations based upon your current oral conditions. Always choose one with the ADA (American Dental Association) Seal of Approval and always brush properly:
• Use a fluoride toothpaste
• Brush at a 45° angle to the gums
• Use short, gently back and forth strokes
• Brush ALL surfaces of each tooth (including the often missed inside surfaces near the tongue!)
• Brush teeth for 2–3 minutes
• Brush your tongue
Last but not least, BE SURE TO FLOSS DAILY and visit your dentist regularly.
Call today to schedule a Dental Exam and Cleaning with Dr. Laudati: Office of North Country Smiles Phone Number 631-265-5549
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