Your health is your responsibility, and brushing your teeth can help you to avoid teeth diseases.
You should consider brushing your teeth regularly; however, knowing how to select the right toothbrush is essential as well. Using the wrong toothbrush can harm you instead of protect you.
Which, then, is the right toothbrush?
Your budget will determine the type of toothbrush you can buy, but these questions will determine the right toothbrush you should buy:
- What`s the toothbrush head size?
- How soft or hard are the toothbrush bristles?
- How`s the toothbrush handle?
At Calm Dentistry, an affordable dental care clinic in Stone Mountain, GA, we figured out answers to these questions. We shall answer all of them in this article so that your toothbrush can no longer put you at risk of infections.
A quality toothbrush should remove all the plaque and not hurt your gum when brushing, and that will depend on the following:
What`s the Toothbrush Head Size?
Brushing your teeth regularly cannot help if the toothbrush can`t reach all parts of your mouth.
Using a toothbrush with a large-head size can hinder you from brushing your teeth thoroughly. Such kinds of toothbrushes cannot reach the hard-to-reach parts of your mouth–especially on the sides and the back of your molars.
The most effective toothbrush head size should be half-inch wide and an inch tall. With this size, you can reach all parts of your mouth and clean them thoroughly.
However, if you are skeptical, you can let a doctor determine the toothbrush size that fits your mouth. That`s when you need a dental care center like Calm Dentistry.
You will be served by professional dentists who have worked in the public and private health sectors. For affordable dental care in Stone Mountain, GA, Calm Dentistry is the clinic to visit.
Should You Choose a Toothbrush with Soft or Hard Bristles?
You might think that a toothbrush with hard bristles has the strength to remove hard plaque. However, the bad news is that these types of toothbrushes can even hurt your teeth.
Using toothbrushes with stiff bristles can wear out your gums and enamel, which can cause bleeding during brushing. It can also expose your teeth roots, which increases the risk of teeth infection, decay, and loss.
Soft bristles can easily bend and reach the hidden plaque in your teeth. Unlike hard bristles, even when you brush with much force, soft bristles can`t tear your gums or wear out your enamel.
Note: Do not apply much pressure when brushing your teeth. You`ll erode your enamel and wears the gums, weakening your teeth and putting yourself at risk of infections.
We have had cases, at Calm Dentistry, where we found that the causes of our patient`s tooth diseases were their types of toothbrushes and how they use them.
Many recommend us not only for affordable dental care services but also due to our expertise and the tooth-care advice we give. Here is what some of our clients say about our services.
Use toothbrushes with soft bristles, and brush gently, ensuring you reach every part of your mouth and you`ll prevent your teeth from infections.
How Should Your Toothbrush Handle Be?
A short toothbrush cannot reach every part of your mouth, which increases the chances of leaving plaques in the hard-to-reach parts of your mouth.
A good toothbrush handle should allow you to maneuver the head around your mouth easily.
You should be able to hold it firmly and reach the hard-to-reach parts of your mouth–at the back of your molars and tongue.
7cm to 13cm is a perfect length for a toothbrush. With this size, you can properly hold the toothbrush and reach every part of your mouth.
Should You Choose a Manual or Electric Toothbrush?
Manual and electric toothbrushes have several differences.
An electric toothbrush is battery-operated; its bristles automatically rotate when cleaning your teeth. With manual toothbrushes, you are the one supposed to apply force when brushing.
Electric toothbrushes have customizable features where you can set how hard or gentle you want to brush. This prevents you from hurting yourself if you have sensitive teeth.
Besides, electric toothbrushes are built with brushing patterns and timers so you brush following the appropriate timing and avoid eroding your enamel.
However, every good thing comes with its cost. Electric toothbrushes are more expensive than manual ones.
Your budget will determine which toothbrush to choose.
As long as your toothbrush has soft bristles, a long handle, and a small head size, you should be okay to go for it.
However, it might be a challenge to perfectly brush your teeth with manual toothbrushes if you have sensitive teeth It is difficult to use the appropriate amount of force required for sensitive teeth when brushing.
Sensitive teeth are caused by worn-out enamel, and brushing with much pressure can cause much damage.
At Calm Dentistry, we have tricks to help you use manual toothbrushes, to prevent more harm when you have sensitive teeth.
We are much concerned about building a healthy community and that`s why we give affordable dental care.
Your health is our pride. Schedule your appointment and we`ll be glad to serve you.
How to Clean Your Toothbrush
You can follow all the teeth cleaning requirements but if you use a dirty toothbrush, you`ll still be at risk of getting infections.
Therefore, you should ensure to clean your toothbrush before and after use.
Cleaning your toothbrush after use enables you to remove the food particles and bacteria that remain.
When stored, bacteria and other dangerous microorganisms can transfer to your toothbrush. If you don`t clean it before using it, you will transfer the bacteria to your teeth.
There are several methods for cleaning toothbrushes. Here they are:
- Soak your toothbrush in an antibacterial mouthwash.
- Put it in hot water for 30 seconds before and after use.
- Cleanse it with denture cleanser.
- Disinfect it with UV toothbrush sanitizer.
- Rinse it with potable tap water.
How to Store Your Toothbrush
You don`t have to clean your toothbrush and expose it to bacteria again in the storage. How you store your toothbrush can be the cause of contamination.
To prevent contamination, ensure to store your toothbrush in a clean container.
If you use one container to store more than one toothbrush, keep the toothbrushes separated to avoid cross-contamination. Also, store your toothbrush heads up to allow them to dry.
Ensure to keep your toothbrush away from the kitchen. Bacteria from the toilet can transfer to your toothbrush and contaminate it.
When You Should Change Your Toothbrush
It`s recommended to change your toothbrush after every three to four months. However, don`t wait for the recommended months if the bristles have frayed.
Frayed bristles can`t clean your teeth thoroughly: in fact, brushing with a frayed toothbrush can damage your gums and cause diseases.
How Often You Should Brush Your Teeth
Though you should brush your teeth regularly, doing it too much can harm you. The recommended brushing frequency is twice a day–for two minutes each time.
Use fluoride toothpaste when brushing and don`t exceed this time. Exceeding this time can make you damage your teeth and gums and expose them to bacteria and infections.
Brushing your teeth as recommended reduces the risk of getting infections; however, not all teeth diseases are caused by poor oral health. That`s why it`s important to visit the dentist after every six months for a check-up.
Calm Dentistry offers affordable dental care in Stone Mountain, GA to help you protect your teeth from diseases.
Our efforts in providing quality dental health care services made us mentioned in the Atlanta Parent Magazine.
Here are some of the services we provide:
Make an appointment today and let us serve you.
