Soft, Medium, or Buzz Lightyear?
At Elizabethtown Dental Associates, family dentist Dr. Ed White is often asked how to choose the most basic tool of oral hygiene, the toothbrush. Picking a toothbrush in Elizabethtown can be as difficult as choosing a paint color, and there seems to be just as many choices.
If you have visited the dental section of your local Hershey or Elizabethtown grocery store or Leola Walmart lately, you know what I am talking about. There are brushes with bristles of varying lengths, brushes that massage your gums, and brushes that change color when they are used up.
Some toothbrush manufacturers claim their brushes freshen your breath or remove stains from your teeth. How do you choose?
One key factor is the firmness of the bristles. Hard bristles may be more effective for cleaning burnt steak off a grill or hard water deposits off a shower floor. However, this does not hold true for your teeth. Medium and firm brushes can damage your gums. Soft and extra-soft bristles are plenty stiff enough to clean plague, food particles, and surface stains from your teeth. Soft bristles also offer more flexibility for hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.
After having dental work or oral surgery, especially anything involving soft tissue grafts, make sure you use an extra-soft brush and be careful!
When buying a toothbrush for a child, make sure the brush feels comfortable in their hand. If the size and angle feels awkward, the child will be less likely to use it long enough to clean all areas of the mouth. Children do not necessarily need a child-sized tooth brush. Some kids can manage an adult size brush better than a short, narrow child size brush. If you are unsure, ask your Elizabethtown family dentist at Elizabethtown Dental Associates.
What about the electric types and water-shooters? Some Elizabethtown folks like the feeling of vibrating bristles or a mini-squirt gun blasting away at the plaque. People with arthritis or other movement-inhibiting conditions can benefit from powered brushes which take some strain off hands and arm muscles.
Is your toothbrush doing the job? Schedule an exam with your Elizabethtown family dentist at Elizabethtown Dental Associates.
At Elizabethtown Dental Associates, our caring and professional dental hygienists instruct our Elizabethtown pediatric clients and adult patients on proper brushing and flossing. If you haven’t experienced a dental deep cleaning at Elizabethtown Dental Associates, you don’t know how clean your teeth and gums can feel.
Schedule a thorough dental cleaning today by calling Elizabethtown Dental Associates at 717-689-2055. An outstanding feature of Elizabethtown Dental Associates is warm, caring and personalized approach to providing the best dental care. We offer porcelain veneers and a full spectrum of restorative dental procedures.
