Dental care

We are all aware of the crucial role that a good quality toothbrush plays in oral healthcare. Nevertheless, when it comes to buying the right one, most of us often get attracted to aesthetic parameters — colour, design of the handle etc. — rather than its direct function. We conveniently forget that the right toothbrush, chosen for the right reasons, maximises the effectiveness of teeth cleaning, whereas the use of poor-quality brushes can significantly harm the oral cavity.

Today, a wide assortment of toothbrushes in the market, varying in shapes and sizes of heads, density, arrangement and quality of filaments, design and length of handles etc. sometimes get us confused about how to select the right one. On top of that, a daily never-ending chorus of various advertising campaigns popping up with one ‘wonder-brush’ after the other, claiming to help clean your teeth in ‘hard-to-reach’ places, leaves us even more puzzled. So what is it that we should know about this important dental instrument?

For many years only natural fibre bristles were used in making toothbrushes, however, nowadays a majority of dentists give preference to their synthetic equivalents. Toothbrushes made of synthetic fibres have a number of advantages over those with natural filaments: no split ends, they are more firmly planted in the brush heads and they do not absorb bacteria.

Brushing efficacy — a key factor in correct individual selection of the toothbrush — depends largely on the hardness of its filaments. There are four degrees of hardness of toothbrushes: hard, medium hard, soft and extra soft. Hard toothbrushes, especially if the wrong method of cleaning is applied, can injure gums and cause an abrasion of hard dental tissues — enamel and dentine; whereas medium hard brushes are proven to be most effective, as the more flexible bristles better penetrate inter-dental spaces and clean gum margins.

Soft and very soft brushes can be recommended during treatment of periodontal disease when condition of gums does not tolerate vigorous brushing. It should be noted that the use of a soft toothbrush in combination with a careless brushing technique can result in the formation of pigmented spots on teeth (brown, black, etc.) as well. That is why medium hard toothbrushes are commonly considered the best option.

A proper, flexible joint of the handle and the head of the toothbrush are also important in ‘automatic’ adjustment of pressure that optimises cleaning of teeth and massaging of gums. Although, the age category of the user is a significant point while recommending size of a toothbrush head; both adults and children are usually suggested use of a small headed brush, which can be easily manipulated in the oral cavity. A small compact head will allow cleaning of all hard-to-reach areas of the oral cavity, especially where wisdom teeth are or should be.

Ideally, your brush should not injure your mouth; it should be free from electrostatic and have rounded ends or filaments. Also, since a toothbrush is a possible source of microbial infection, it is important to maintain its immaculate hygienic condition. Always keep it dry in a glass or toothbrush holder with its head up. This minimises the accumulation of germs in it, at the same time preserving stiffness and the original shape of its filaments.

It is advisable to change your toothbrush after three to four months of use as deformed filaments can damage teeth and gums. There are brushes with special colour indicators, which after a passage of time, signal the user to replace them by changing colour.

It is clinically proven that a new toothbrush removes plaque and stains 25 to 30 per cent more effectively than the one which has been in use for three months.

At the end, it is wise to say that while purchasing toothbrushes, we should be cautious of counterfeits, which, though looking completely like the original, are not made to the same quality control standards as true brand-name brushes. Consequences of their use can be extremely harmful, resulting in bleeding of the gums, infected gum pockets, thinning of the enamel, increased sensitivity of teeth etc. Continuous micro-trauma of gums caused by ‘number two’ toothbrushes often lead to the development of gingivitis or gum inflammation.

Choosing the right toothbrush is not an easy task. There are details and tips, which followed properly could spare us from buying substandard stuff and compromising on the quality of our oral health.