Which toothbrush to choose

A good toothbrush saves you from bad breath, plaque and traces of a night snack. And it also makes it harder for caries to get to your teeth. But to do this, you need to choose the right toothbrush and use it at least once a day. How? Let's tell you now.

How the toothbrush appeared

Oral hygiene was monitored in ancient Egypt. Then the teeth were cleaned with a stick made of tree bark, which contained bacteria-killing substances. One end of it was sharp, and the remnants of food were picked out with it, and the second was soaked, and the plaque was removed with it.

Toothbrushes appeared as early as 1498, that is, more than 500 years ago. The handle was made of bamboo or bone, and the cleaning head had pig bristles. It was created by the wise Chinese. Even then, they understood how important it was to brush their teeth efficiently and monitor their health. Although even nowadays there are people who use a toothbrush not every day, but occasionally. And they come to the dentist only when pills for toothache no longer help.

The first brushes, similar to those that are sold in stores today, were made by the English company "Addis". And in 1840, this profitable business appeared in Germany and France. Russia and China were also involved: these countries supplied natural bristles. By the way, in 1938 it was first replaced with synthetic.

At the same time, the first electric brush was created. Who else could have developed it, if not the pedantic Swiss? However, they began to sell it only in the 60s. But by this time, a toothbrush with a built-in battery had already appeared on the market. And a little later, the first models with a rotating head appeared on the world market.

Today, manufacturers of toothbrushes continue to surprise us by creating real devices.

What are toothbrushes

• classic
• electric
• ultrasonic

Classic toothbrushes

These brushes are the most purchased. They are given to passengers of the luxury cars of the Russian Railways, left in hotel rooms and offered to patients before admission to dentists. The handle of a classic toothbrush is usually made of plastic, and the bristles are made of synthetic fibers. The degree of rigidity is always indicated on the package:

• Soft
• Medium
• Hard

Previously, dentists recommended soft bristle brushes only for children, as well as patients with sensitive teeth and problematic gums. Now almost everyone uses such toothbrushes. Soft bristles do not damage the enamel and tissues of the oral cavity, and if you are not lazy and use it correctly, then it copes with the plaque successfully.

A brush with stiff bristles is recommended to be used only for the care of removable dentures. It is not worth brushing your teeth with it, because it scratches the enamel and can damage the mucous membrane. And she will not be able to cope with tartar, since it can only be removed in the hygienist's office.

The appearance of ordinary toothbrushes is constantly changing. Then rubberized parts appear on their handle for convenience, then the shape of the head is modified, then the number of hairs, their thickness and structure change. Marketers regularly prove to us that each subsequent version of the classic brush is better than the previous one. At the same time, it is proved that the cleanliness of teeth directly depends on the cleaning technique.

Do you know what movements can effectively remove plaque from your teeth?
Ask the hygienist about it. He will definitely give you personal recommendations.

Electric Toothbrushes

Many people dream of an electric toothbrush, but only the non-greedy can afford it. It works on batteries or batteries, less often — from the mains. Such a brush cleans the enamel from food pieces with rotational and translational movements of the head, and removes soft plaque with pulsating movements. An electric toothbrush allows you to get even to the "eights", which you usually pay little attention to.

Most toothbrushes have several modes of operation. You can choose the one that is most comfortable for your gums and cleanses the enamel well. In addition, you can purchase additional nozzles, for example, for the hygiene of the tongue and gums.

Electric toothbrushes operate at a frequency of 200-400 Hz — this noise is clearly audible to everyone.
And they also produce 24,000-48,000 movements per minute. High rotation speed allows you to save time. Therefore, such brushes are ideal for those who are constantly late somewhere.

Surely now you are convinced that the electric brush does an excellent job with brushing your teeth.
Yes, but only if you use it correctly. Therefore, you need to read the instructions for the brush before it breaks or injures you.

In addition, not everyone can use an electric toothbrush. It is not recommended:

• children under 3 yearsof age,
• owners of veneers or crowns,
• people with pathological tooth erasability and low enamel density,
• patients with a wedge-shaped tooth defect

Ultrasonic Toothbrushes

These brushes remove plaque using acoustic vibrations. They operate at 1.6 MHz,
so you can't hear them. In a minute, the head of such a brush can make as many as 192,000,000 movements. Impressive, isn't it?

Ultrasonic toothbrushes are considered the most modern. They have a therapeutic effect on periodontal tissues, help the microelements contained in the toothpaste to be absorbed and remove plaque well.

But such a toothbrush is not recommended for pregnant women and people with pacemakers.

Ultrasonic electric toothbrush can protect well from caries
with regular and proper use. But it will not replace the ultrasound
that the hygienist uses while brushing his teeth.

Baby Toothbrushes

Choosing something for a child is always a problem. For crumbs, I want to buy the best, and the cost does not matter at all. But when choosing a baby toothbrush, the age of the child is more important
than the financial capabilities of the parents.

A child's toothbrush should "grow" with the child. For a baby who does not have a single tooth yet, they buy a silicone brush. It is used to massage the gums, tongue and lips. To clean the first teeth, use a brush
with a soft pile on a small head. This will protect the enamel and gums from damage as much as possible.

Along with the growth of the baby's jaw and the appearance of new teeth, the size of the toothbrush also changes. Her head is getting longer and bigger.

When the child turns 3 years old, you can start using an electric toothbrush with special attachments.

Before buying a toothbrush, consult with a pediatric dentist.
He will choose the right shape of the brush, taking into account the characteristics of the baby and his age.

Special toothbrushes

• Toothbrushes for braces. They have a V-shaped cutout on the working part.
• Toothbrushes for dentures. They have special stiff bristles.
• Monopuck toothbrushes. They are designed for cleaning the cervical part of the teeth when a person has crowding, a fixed prosthesis or an implant.

How to choose a toothbrush

Brushing your teeth with a good brush is a pleasure. You run your tongue over your teeth and feel that they are smooth, and your breath is fresh. How to choose one?

1. Look at the bristles. Their tips should be rounded.

2. What is the stiffness of the brush? Depending on the condition of the oral cavity and gums, soft brushes or medium hardness are selected.

3. And how are things with bundles there? There should be a lot of them so that the brush is thick. So she will cope better with the raid.

4. Measure the length of the working part and look at its shape. A good option for a child's toothbrush is no more than 22 mm, and for an adult — from 25 to 27 mm. Oval and rounded brushes are considered more convenient.

5. Love comfort in everything — look at the handle. Choose a handle shape that fits comfortably in your hand.

6. And finally: how many grams does it weigh? The weight of the toothbrush is of great importance. As a rule, all conventional manual brushes are quite light.

Don't like the classic brush? Buy an electric one. It costs more than usual, so take the time and study the offers in advance. Among the electric brushes there are models equipped with a tongue cleaning nozzle, a pressure sensor on the tooth and even a timer. Everything is so that you clean each tooth properly and thoroughly.

How to take care of a toothbrush

1. The brush is an individual hygiene product, that is, only one person should use it. So an infection from someone else's oral cavity will not settle in yours.

2. After each tooth brushing, rinse the brush thoroughly with water and place it vertically with the head up in a glass.

3. Do not store the brush in a closed case, otherwise it will not dry out, and bacteria multiply well in a humid environment.

4. Do not use the brush if its villi are deformed. You will only harm the enamel and mucous membrane.

5. Wash the brush with soap to remove the remnants of paste and plaque, and once a week keep a few minutes in an antiseptic solution.

How often to change the toothbrush

Do you want a toothbrush to bring only benefits? Don't forget to change it. This should be done every three months. This is a general rule for both classic brushes and electric ones.
Over time, the bristles deform and perform their function poorly.

If the toothbrush settled in the bathroom only a month ago, but its villi are already looking in different directions, then feel free to send such a brush to the trash.

And there are cases when the brush looks great, but it still has to be changed. For example,
if you have been ill with infectious diseases such as stomatitis, gum inflammation, candidiasis, sore throat and even simple ARVI. If you do not change the brush, then there is a risk that you will get sick again.
By the way, some companies produce toothbrushes with a special wear indicator.
It is very comfortable.

A good toothbrush and proper home oral hygiene will help maintain dental health. But no matter how the toothbrush market develops, no matter what manufacturers and marketers offer, home hygiene will never replace professional hygiene. People with a good condition of the oral cavity are recommended to undergo it once every six months, and with high intensity of caries in childhood and adolescence, in the presence of periodontal diseases or braces - once every three months.