Heather Lawson-Myers - TOOTH TALK REACH, COLGATE, Oral B, Wisdom, no-name, compact head, diamond-head, raised bristles, angled head, electric toothbrush - how do you know which one to buy? No scientific evidence exists to show that any one type of toothbrush design is better at cleaning teeth than another.
Plaque, the soft, sticky substance that adheres to your teeth daily, causes cavities and periodontitis (gum disease). A toothbrush, used for a minimum of twice daily (after breakfast and before bedtime) to clean teeth, removes plaque, thereby preventing cavities and periodontitis.
A toothbrush should have a relatively small head. One that is too big cannot access teeth in the back of the mouth. The bristles should be soft and rounded. Only soft bristles are flexible enough to slide under the gum line and around the sides of the teeth to ensure a more thorough cleaning.
Medium- and hard-bristle brushes are not flexible and tend to abrade the section of the tooth close to the gum line. Use of toothbrushes with medium and hard bristles also causes the gums to move away from the necks of the teeth (recession), especially if a back and forth scrubbing motion is employed.
PROPER BRUSHING TECHNIQUE
Proper brushing technique requires you to angle the toothbrush towards the gum line at a 45-degree angle (allowing bristles to slide under the gum line) and using a circular motion gently clean the teeth. Brush the cheek-side, the tongue-side and the biting surface of the teeth. To brush the tongue-side of the anterior teeth, the brush should be positioned vertically and gently moved up and down the tooth surface. You should also brush your tongue. The process should take at least two to three minutes.
Many people do not brush their teeth long enough. Most people brush less than a minute and do not effectively reach all areas. Scrubbing the teeth back and forth or up and down are not effective brushing techniques.
Change your toothbrush or toothbrush head (if you are using an electric toothbrush) before the bristles become frayed. Toothbrush bristles that are no longer vertical are useless. Old toothbrushes are ineffective and may harbour bacteria. Tooth-brushes should be changed every three months and after an illness.
Electric toothbrushes do not work much better than manual toothbrushes, but they do motivate some reluctant brushers to clean their teeth more often. There are many persons who are fascinated with gadgets. An electric toothbrush may be more appealing to such persons. They are advantageous because they cover a wider area faster. Electric toothbrushes are recommended for people who have limited manual dexterity, such as disabled or elderly persons and those who wear braces.
REPLACING
Regardless of the toothbrush that you choose, remember to use a soft-bristle brush, brush for at least two minutes, twice daily (after breakfast and at bedtime), replace it every three months or after an illness, avoid storing your toothbrush in a moist environment (this encourages bacterial growth), and use it in conjunction with dental floss.
Dr. Heather-Dawn Lawson-Myers, President, Jamaica Dental Association (2003/4).
