Toothbrushes

Types of Toothbrushes

Toothbrushes come in many shapes and sizes. There are different ways in which a toothbrush can be classified:

Depending on the type of bristle pattern

• Block Pattern
• V Shaped or Wavy Pattern

Depending on Handle design

• Straight Handle (Most Conventional and easy to control)
• Contra Angle Handle (Manufactured to clean difficult areas)
• Flexible Handle (Used to control injuries to gums caused by applying excessive force)
• Grip Handle (To prevent toothbrush from slipping)

Which is the Right Toothbrush for me?

No toothbrush can be singled out as the best one. Choosing a toothbrush depends upon individual needs and requirements. But it is best if you can choose a toothbrush which can be gripped easily, reaches all the areas of mouth and is comfortable for use.

Proper Way of Brushing:

• Place your toothbrush at an angle of 45 degrees against the gums.
• Move the toothbrush back and forth on teeth.
• Brush the outer surface inner surface and chewing surfaces of teeth in this manner.
• Use the upper end of the bristles to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth with a gentle up and down stroke.
• Brush your tongue also to remove harmful bacteria and freshen up your breath.
• Proper brushing does not take more than two minutes in effectively cleaning your teeth.
• Apply just enough pressure to feel the toothbrush on your gums; if you are squashing the bristles then you are brushing too hard.
• Hold the brush like the way you hold a pen while writing.
  
  
• Placing the brush at a 45 degree angle to the gum line.
• Back and forth motion to clean the chewing surface of teeth
• Cleaning of the tongue, which is an essential part of brushing

When to Replace a Toothbrush:

• You should replace your toothbrush at least once every three months.
• Change your toothbrush when its bristles start looking as if they are squashed or have fallen apart.
• Change your brush after having certain illnesses like a bout of cold or flu.

Reasons to change a Toothbrush:

• Toothbrushes wear out due to regular use.
• Bristles break down and lose their effectiveness.
• Worn and fractured bristles are a breeding ground for germs, fungus and bacteria.
• Worn toothbrushes can damage your gums.
• People who wear braces should change their toothbrush more frequently as the bristles break away more frequently due to braces.
• Children’s toothbrushes require special care and protection as they brush with uneven strokes and often bite or chew their toothbrushes.

Tips on Caring for your Toothbrush:

• Be sure to rinse plaque if any and food particles from your toothbrush after brushing.
• Toothbrushes should be placed in a dry area as moist toothbrushes are breeding grounds for harmful bacteria.
• Some experts suggest that toothbrushes should be washed in antiseptic mouthwashes after brushing at night as it helps to fight bacterial growth.

Interdental Brushes

Interdental brushes are considered to be the most effective and easiest method of cleaning interproximal spaces (spaces in between the teeth). The fine nylon filaments remove plaque and food particles from around the tooth surface and from the areas around gums.

It is used by placing the brush in between the tooth surfaces and then pushing it in a back and forth motion.

• Interdental Brushes
• Proper way to use an Interdental Brush

Dental Floss/Flossing

Dental floss is used to remove food particles and other entangled objects from between the teeth. Dental floss is composed of many nylon filaments which are bound together to form a thread. Dental floss is much more effective than using a toothpick, as toothpicks can damage the tooth structure.

Types of Floss

Waxed floss is coated with wax which makes it easier for the floss to slide into the adjacent tooth surface.

Mint flavoured floss gives a feeling of freshness.

Fluoride coated floss is intended to prevent dental caries from occurring on the adjacent tooth surfaces, but its effectiveness has not yet been proven.

You can choose the best suitable floss as per your need or preference. There is no such thing such as good or bad floss. Dental Floss is easily available and is not very expensive.

Way of Flossing Teeth

• Take out a 12-15 inch (30-40cm) length of floss.
• Wrap the floss around your middle fingers.
• Hold the floss between the thumb and forefinger of each hand.
• Leave about 2 inches (5cm) of floss between the hands.
• The floss must be taut when it is used.
• Gently guide the floss across the contact point between the teeth.
• When the floss is in position between the teeth, rub it up and down a few times against each tooth surface, one after the other.
• Repeat the same for all the teeth in the mouth.
• Don’t give a sharp downward thrust of the floss as it will damage the gums.
  
  
• Way of Holding the Floss in Between Hands
• Using the Floss in Upward Motion
• Using the Floss in Downward Motion

Toothpaste

Toothpastes along with toothbrush are used to clean the teeth and remove dental plaque (previously known as tartar) and entangled food particles from the mouth. They can be classified into different types depending on their ingredients and the functions they perform and are described below.

Types of Toothpaste

• Fluoride Toothpastes
  They contain various Fluoride compounds which help to fight dental decay. Children’s toothpastes come in acceptable flavours.
• Desensitizing Toothpastes
  They are generally used to seal off the exposed inner structures of the tooth. They are used when the teeth become sensitive to hot or cold substances. Should be used for a short time under the prescription from a Dentist
• Whitening Toothpastes
  Contains coarse abrasives to remove stains and whiten the teeth surface. Should be used for a short time under the prescription from a Dentist

Things to consider when selecting Toothpaste

• Fluoride helps to prevent the decay of teeth. Since we all are susceptible to dental decay, we should all use toothpaste which contains Fluoride.
• Children should use children toothpaste which contains a lower concentration of fluoride.
• Desensitizing toothpaste should only be used when there is sensitivity of teeth for hot and cold substances. It is not recommended for long-term use.
• Whitening toothpaste should be used only under medical supervision. Long-term use of whitening toothpaste will roughen the tooth surfaces, which will aggravate stain deposits.

What is the right Amount of Toothpaste to be used for Brushing Teeth?

Just a pea sized blob of toothpaste is enough for brushing teeth once. Using more than this is a waste.

Traditional Ways to Maintain Oral Hygiene
Before the advent of commercially available toothbrush and toothpaste, natural oral hygiene aids were used since time immemorial for sanitizing the mouth.

The various traditional methods to clean the teeth and gums can be classified as follows:

The two most popular method of cleaning teeth are described below

Neem twigs (Datun)
Neem Twigs are chewed for a while in mouth which makes it a brush like stick that works as natural toothbrush. Chewing releases extract that is bitter in taste but is anti-bacterial. It protects teeth and gums by killing bacteria. It purifies blood and gets rid of bad breath. It has healing properties for any ulcers in mouth. Cavities, bleeding gums, plaque formation, and discoloration of teeth can all be checked by Neem datun.

Mango Leaves
A fresh mango leaf is washed and the midrib is removed. The leaf is then folded lengthwise with glossy surfaces facing each other. It is rolled into a cylindrical pack. One end of this pack is bitten off 2-3mm to create a raw surface which is rubbed on the teeth. The pack is held between the thumb and the index finger. At the end, the midrib, which was first removed, is used as a tongue cleaner. Mango leaves are widely used to clean teeth in Karnataka.