Sources' "The Plaque Fighters: Choosing
a
Weapon," journal of the American Dental
Association; April 1993; "Basic brushing,"
American Dental Association, 1991; "Oral
Hygiene Homecare," Clinical Research
Associates
Newslettet;
August
1986;
"Update
of
Oral
Hygiene
Aids:
Toothbrushes," Dental Health, 1992/3;
"Oral Inflammatory Disease and the
Toothbrush," journal of the Alabama Dental
Association, Fall 1993; "Toothbrush Age
and Wear as it Relates to Plaque Control,"
journal of Clinical Periodontology;jan.
1986;
'~ Guide to Good Dental Care," Consumer
Reports, September 1992; "The Endtuft
Brush for the Partially Edentulous Patient,"
journal of Prosthetic Dentist~ August
1984;
Howard S. Glazet; 005, FAGD; general
practitionet; The Bronx, New York.
months. Sick people should
change their toothbrush at the
beginning of an illness and after
they feel better.
Angled heads, raised bristles,
oscillating tufts and handles that
change colors with use: you name
it; toothbrushes come in all shapes,
colors and sizes, promising to
perform better than the rest. But no
body of scientific evidence exists
yet to show that any one type of
toothbrush design is better at
removing plaque than another. The
only thing that matters is that you
brush your teeth.
Many just don't brush long
enough. Most people brush less
than a minute, but to effectively
reach all areas and scrub off
cavity-causing bacteria, it is
recommended to brush for two to
three minutes.
How do I brush?
Place the toothbrush beside your
teeth at a 45-degree angle and rub
back-and-forth gently. Brush
outside the teeth, inside the tooth,
your tongue, and especially brush
on chewing surfaces and between
teeth. Be sure to brush at least
twice a day, especially after
meals.
20th century made tooth-
brushes inexpensive and
available to everyone.
Electric vs. manual toothbrushes
Electric toothbrushes don't work
that much better than manual
toothbrushes, but they do motivate
some reluctant brushers to clean
their teeth more often. The
whizzing sounds of an electric
toothbrush and the tingle of the
rotary tufts swirling across teeth
and gums often captivates people
who own electric toothbrushes.
They are advantageous because
they can cover more area faster.
Electric toothbrushes are recom-
mended for people who have
limited manual dexterity, such as a
disabled or elderly person and
those who wear braces.
Sometimes, it takes more
time and effort to use an electric
toothbrush because batteries must
be recharged, and it must be
cleaned after every use. Most
electric toothbrushes have
rechargeable batteries that take 10
to
Don't forget. ..
Visit your dentist regularly
because tooth brushing and
flossing is most effective with
periodic checkups and
cleanings.
Which toothbrush is best?
In general, a toothbrush head
should be small (1" by 1/2") for
easy access. It should have a long,
wide handle for a firm grasp. It
should have soft nylon bristles
with rounded ends so you won't
hurt your gums.
Toothbrushes
When should I change my
toothbrush?
Be sure to change your toothbrush,
or toothbrush head (if you're using
an electric toothbrush) before the
bristles become splayed and
frayed. Not only are old
toothbrushes ineffective, but they
may harbor harmful bacteria that
can cause infection such as
gingivitis and periodontitis.
Toothbrushes should be changed
every three to four
How long have toothbrushes
been used?
The first toothbrush was invented
in China in 1000 A.D. It was an
ivory-handled toothbrush with
bristles made from a horse's mane.
Toothbrushes became popular in
the 19th century among the
Victorian affluent. Mass marketing
and the advent of nylon bristles in
the
45 minutes to recharge. The
gearing in an electric toothbrush
occasionally must be
lubricated with water.
Prices range from $30 to $99.
How do electrics work?
Electric toothbrushes generally work
by using tufts of nylon bristles to
stimulate gums and clean teeth in an
oscillating or rotary motion.
Some tufts are arranged in a circular
pattern, while others have the
traditional shape of several bristles
lined up on a row.
When first using an electric
toothbrush, expect some bleeding
from your gums. The bleeding will
stop when you learn [0 control the
brush and your gums become
healthier. Children under 10 should
be supervised when using an electric
toothbrush. Avoid mashing the tufts
against your teeth in an effort to clean
them. Use light force and slow
movements, and allow the electric
bristle action to do its job.
This information was compiled for General Dentistry. Your dentist cares about long-term dental health for you and your family and demonstrates that concern by
belonging to the Academy of General Dentistry. As one of the 35,000 general dentists in the United Sates and Canada who are member of the Academy, your dentists
participates in an ongoing program of professional development and continuing education to remain current with advances in the profession and to provide quality patient
treatment. Visit the AGD’s website at www.agd.org. You have permission to photocopy this page and distribute it to your patients.
