Tel: 020 8950 2664
Toothbrushes & Tooth Brushing
Object of tooth brushing
- To remove BACTERIAL PLAQUE which causes tooth decay and gum disease.
- Plaque is a mass of bacteria in a mucopolysaccharide matrix which firmly adheres to the tooth surface.
Which brush is best?
- Recent studies have shown mechanical brushes which rotate and oscillate such as the Oral B Triumph will reduce gum inflammation more effectively than manual brushes.
- Manual brushes are preferred by many patients and are less expensive. Studies have shown that old worn toothbrushes are as efficient as new!
- I would always recommend a soft texture brush such as the Colgate Total Professional (soft).
- These recommended brushes are available at the practice.
How often should I brush?
- The more the better!
- Or at least twice a day and preferably after every meal.
Tooth brushing technique.
- Try to gently massage the bristles of the brush into the gaps between the teeth and around the neck of the tooth.
- Responsibility for ensuring that all areas of the mouth are covered is in the hand of the individual.
- I would suggest that brushing time shouldn’t be less than 2 minutes!
- Using plaque disclosing agents helps. These harmless dyes stain the plaque on your teeth and show the areas you are missing. They are available from the practice free of charge.
Flossing or interdental brushing
- Flossing is technique sensitive and can be difficult to do efficiently.
- It is however very beneficial if done on a regular basis every 2-3 days.
- Interdental brushes can be more efficient than floss often removing plaque from beneath the gum margins.
- Interdental brush technique is often easier than flossing.
We are available to discuss any of the above points. Please use the contact page on this site.
We particularly welcome feedback from our patients regarding information on this webpage.
Article posted by Jonathan Harrison - May 25 2008
