Toothbrush Mania

Hardware and technique for your chompers

People like to hover over supermarket shelves picking up one toothbrush after another. After some time, a seemingly random choice is made. When asked how they select a toothbrush, they sometimes say any brush will do or that they have purchased the most attractive one.

Tooth decay (caries) and periodontal (gum) disease are among the most common diseases afflicting mankind. It is not uncommon to find a pretty face marred by horrific teeth, and some even lose their pearly whites at a very young age.

As both caries and gum diseases are a result of bacterial action on teeth and gums, it is essential that proper dental hygiene be practised. Therefore, cleansing the mouth completely of bacterial plaque and maintaining it that way will lower the incidence of disease. Choosing a suitable toothbrush is the first step to achieving this.

Which brush?

Expensive brushes are not always necessary or the best. For effective brushing, brush heads should be small enough to reach all parts of the mouth. The brush head should also have a flat brushing surface with a straight handle. The bristles should be soft or medium-soft, never hard. They should be set close together–termed multi-tufted.

An inter-dental, or inter-proximal toothbrush can be used as an adjunct to the usual toothbrush. As this can aid cleaning dentition with spacing between the teeth, it is suitable for patients with moderate to severe gum disease.

Electric toothbrushes are getting increasingly popular. They have the advantage of speed and offer a more controlled brushing force compared to the manual toothbrush.

The electric toothbrush can also be helpful for the elderly or handicapped who have poor dexterity, or those who cannot master conventional brushing. Children may also use an electric toothbrush more readily because of its novelty value. However, there’s no need for an electric toothbrush if people can brush effectively with a manual toothbrush.

For infants, mothers can consider using a finger brush. It provides a mother’s touch to babies, as opposed to a bulky toothbrush held by a long unwieldy handle.

It’s all about technique!

Hardware aside, adopting an effective brushing technique is equally, if not more, important. A person can have an excellent toothbrush but if his brushing technique is haphazard, his oral hygiene will still be poor.

A simple and effective technique is to apply the bristle tips at 45 degrees to the gum area, just above where the teeth emerge, and concentrate on the gum margins, where most people miss. The bristles should be moved back and forth with a gentle circular scrubbing motion and short strokes. Do not forget the teeth at the back of the mouth. Attend to all five surfaces of the teeth: front, back, the two sides, and the chewing surface.

Like tennis and golf, you cannot expect to brush correctly by simply reading up on brushing tips. Upon receiving instructions, you must practise. So, get your dentist’s advice on selecting a suitable toothbrush and enjoy learning how to brush!