Do you need a new toothbrush? Even if you don’t, you may wish to think about replacing or upgrading your existing brush. The majority of dentists recommend changing your brush head at least once every three months.
If you’re new to this, you may be flummoxed by the number of alternatives available. How important is softness vs stiffness? Do you want a small or large brush head? What about manual brushes versus electrical ones?
It’s critical to select the appropriate toothbrush. Let’s look at Dental Eugene Oregon alternatives to see which type of toothbrush is ideal for you.
Most people will benefit more from soft than medium or hard bristles. This is because tooth brushing should be done gently. You may have been taught as a youngster to brush your teeth vigorously to the beat of a simple song or for a certain amount of time. Brushing your teeth too hard, on the other hand, can undo all of the good work you’re trying to achieve by brushing in the first place.
Brushing too hard might cause your gums and enamel to be damaged. That’s why softer bristles are preferable: if you get a little carried away, at least your bristles aren’t so harsh that they’re exacerbating the condition.
The stiffness of your bristles isn’t the only thing to consider when selecting a new toothbrush. Look for a brush with either multi-level or angled bristles; these have been found to remove plaque better than flat bristles.
In general, a regular adult-size toothbrush should be sufficient for brushing your teeth. If you have a small mouth, a tiny toothbrush may be more pleasant to use. The goal is to pick a size that allows you to brush each tooth thoroughly without irritating your gums. This might imply a smaller size for a more thorough clean.
The American Dental Association (ADA) advises brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day with a fluoridated toothpaste. But when was the last time you timed your brushing session? According to a 2009 research, the majority of Americans brush their teeth for only 45 seconds at a time.
One advantage of using an electric toothbrush instead of a manual one is that many models include built-in timers to ensure you brush for two full minutes. The same research also revealed that brushing for two full minutes removed 26% more plaque than brushing for the typical 45 seconds.
Another advantage of switching to an electric toothbrush is that you’ll usually get a more thorough clean than with a manual brush. Oral-B and Sonicare electric toothbrushes are popular among our patients at Quest Dental. The smaller Oral-B brush heads can clean more surfaces of your teeth for a thorough clean, while the Sonicare 31,000 brush strokes per minute remove plaque without irritating your gums.
Finally, it’s important that you make a firm commitment to brushing your teeth for at least two minutes twice a day with whatever toothbrush you’ve selected. Brushing on a regular basis will go a long way toward maintaining your oral health, especially when combined with flossing and teeth cleanings every six months.
Our dentists are here to assist you if you’re in need of a teeth cleaning. Call Quest Dental at 541-688-7278 or fill out our contact form to book an appointment.
We look forward to meeting you. Call 541-688-7278 or request an appointment online to set up your first visit. We’ll be in touch soon.