When you decide to shop for a new toothbrush, you will be faced with such an enormous variety that choosing one may be a real challenge. So how do you select a correct toothbrush?
There are many types of toothbrushes available in the market: different bristle hardness, straight or angled handles, big or small heads, flat or serrated brush surfaces, the list seems endless. There is no one brush that is superior to the others, but here are hints on what to look for when choosing a toothbrush.
| • | You should first of all select a brush with soft bristles, which will be gentle to your gums when you brush -- instead of hurting them. |
| • | The head of the brush should be about 2 to 2.5cm long and 1cm wide. This may seem rather small, but a bigger brush will not be able to reach the back corners of the mouth, unless of course you have a large, wide mouth! |
| • | Another thing to look for is bristles which are very close together, as this increases brushing efficiency |
What you should avoid are hard toothbrushes, or those with bristles set far apart, or one that is too big for you. After that, it's up to you to pick the colour, or shape or angle of the handle and so on.
Children's toothbrushes are also easily available. These must have soft bristles, and a shape suitable for the size of the child's mouth.
Many people ask if an electric toothbrush is better than a manual one. An electric toothbrush is not necessarily more or less effective, it depends on how well you brush especially with a manual toothbrush. An electric one will definitely be helpful for people with less manual dexterity, for example persons with physical handicaps, arthritis, or after a stroke.
Don't forget to change your toothbrush every 2-3 months, even if the present one hasn't become completely flat yet!
Quite a lot of people have heard of dental floss, but unfortunately not many use it regularly. Actually dental floss is about the only thing that can clean in between teeth, which is as important as brushing the tooth surfaces. It may seem difficult to learn to use, but once you get used to it, it's as easy as brushing. You can use any type of floss, whether waxed or unwaxed, with or without flavours.
An interdental brush looks like a miniature baby bottle washer. It is also used to clean in between teeth, much like a toothpick but very much more efficiently. However a word of caution is needed: the interdental brush is not for everybody, but only for those with large spaces in between the teeth. If you are not sure, please ask your dentist about this.
One thing everyone uses, and should use, is toothpaste. Why do we use toothpaste? Besides its mouth-freshening taste, it is a mild polishing paste, often with fluoride, which help prevent caries on tooth surfaces. Some toothpastes have extra desensitising ingredients to help sensitive teeth as well.
There are toothpastes marketed to reduce smokers' stains, but I would advise caution as these as many are very abrasive and can wear teeth down with long use.
If there are stains it's better to let the dentist remove them.
Even with regular brushing and flossing, it is necessary to have a dental check-up every 6 months. Your dentist will remove any deposits, like stains or tartar, and give you tips on how to clean your teeth better.