Is it Time for a New Toothbrush?

Is it Time for a New Toothbrush?. You cannot have good oral health without having good oral hygiene. This is important not only for your dental health, but also for your general health, as clinical studies have linked gum disease to numerous serious health conditions that include diabetes and heart disease.

In order to brush your teeth thoroughly, you do need to have a good toothbrush but this is one essential tool that is often overlooked. If the bristles on your toothbrush begin to look splayed or worn, then it’s time to change it. Most people need to change their toothbrush every two or three months and as a new toothbrush is pretty cheap, it’s a tiny investment to make in your dental health.

When choosing a new tooth brush, pick one with soft to medium bristles. You really do not need or want to have a brush with hard bristles as these could damage your teeth and gums, wearing away tooth enamel and gum tissue. The ends of the bristles should be gently rounded and the toothbrush head needs to be small enough to fit right to the back of your mouth. If you have a particularly small mouth, then don’t be afraid to pick a child sized toothbrush.

But is it better to use a manual or electric toothbrush? This is something our Downham Market dentist is often asked. Both manual and electric toothbrushes have their advantages and disadvantages and both can work equally well as it’s all down to brushing techniques.

Comparing Manual and Electric Toothbrushes

Manual toothbrushes are cheap to buy and come in a huge variety of sizes. They are also great for people who need to travel a lot and who don’t want the hassle of having to charge up their brush.

In comparison electric toothbrushes can be quite the investment and you still need to replace the brush heads as frequently as you would a normal disposable toothbrush, and of course you need to remember to charge them up before you go on holiday or to pack a separate charger.

However people with limited dexterity, for example anyone with a painful condition such as arthritis may find it more comfortable to use an electric toothbrush. Additionally many have built-in features such as two-minute timers that make it easy to tell when you have brushed your teeth for long enough.

This doesn’t mean that electric toothbrushes clean teeth any better than a manual toothbrush as overall there shouldn’t be any significant difference between their ability to remove plaque and food debris and to prevent gum disease. Provided you use the correct techniques, both should be equally successful and if you prefer using a manual toothbrush then it can be useful to keep a small timer in your bathroom, just to make sure you brush for two minutes each time.

Worried Your Brushing Technique Isn’t up to Scratch? Ask Us for Help

If you feel your brushing and flossing techniques could do with a little help then please just ask our Downham Market dentist for advice and a practical demonstration on how to brush properly. Patient education is very important to all of us here at Together Dental Downham Market and we’d all be delighted to help you.

To make an appointment to come and see one of our friendly dentists, just call us on 01366 382265.