Just like our superheroes, our dental health needs a superhero too. So, who is that superhero to protect our teeth, gums and provide the best oral hygiene ??
Superhero for your dental health is your “TOOTHBRUSH”. Choosing the right toothbrush and its usage makes an enormous difference in your life.
The bristles in your toothbrush help in removing tooth decay-causing bacteria which stay between the teeth. It helps to clean the accumulated plaque and avoids bad odour.
Types of toothbrush :
- Manual toothbrush: Manual toothbrushes are used by most of the population. It is hand-held and made out of hard plastic. Its soft plastic bristles clean the gums removes plaque and debris. The movements are manipulated by the person holding them.
2.Electric Toothbrush: The electric toothbrush makes automatic bristle motions where the brush head rotates clockwise and anti-clockwise to clean teeth. The motion is made by a motor.
How to choose the right toothbrush :
- Head size: Make sure you choose the right head size while selecting a toothbrush as it should easily fit into your mouth and helps you access hard-to-reach areas inside the mouth.
- Handle: The handle must be long enough and should have a better grip to hold as your movements while brushing makes a huge difference in cleansing the bacteria which is accumulated between your teeth.
- Bristles: It is suggested to opt for a toothbrush with soft or ultra-soft bristles in case of bleeding gums or extreme sensitivity as the hard bristles may contribute to gum recession hurting your gums.
- Shape: The shape of the toothbrush matters, and the round shape is always considered better than U- shape as the amount of dental plaque that you remove depends on the number of brushing motions. The round shape toothbrush completely envelopes each tooth, giving a maximum reach in cleaning.
- Orthodontic toothbrush for braces: These brushes are exclusively for people with braces. They are designed with soft bristles of different lengths—the firm inner bristles clean surfaces between orthodontic braces along with fixed brackets and compact head.
Perks of electric toothbrush:
- Better for the elderly who find it hard to use a manual toothbrush
- Helpful for patients with braces
- Suggestable to people with sensitive gums
How often to replace the toothbrush:
Dentists recommend changing the toothbrush every 3-4months, and if the bristles are too hard, it is safe to replace it immediately replacing.
Steps for proper brushing :
Make sure you choose a toothpaste with fluoride and potassium nitrate for whitening and preventing sensitivity.
- Start brushing in circles
- Start in the back and cover the upper front, lower front, followed by the top and interiors
- Clean your tongue and inner surfaces, followed by a good mouth wash
****Brush twice a day and smile wide every day!!****