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Back to the
Basics:
Toothbrushes
With
toothbrush
and
toothpaste
in hand you
feel ready
to fight the
cavity war
and brush
away all of
the plaque
and food
particles
that have
collected on
your teeth
in any given
day. As you
begin to
apply the
toothpaste
to your
brush you
notice that
the insignia
COLGATE
looks a
little dated
and the
bristles are
fewer and
far between;
you think,
Iʼm sure a
few more
uses wonʼt
cause any
harm. The
truth is
there is a
lot more
than meets
the eye when
evaluating
what kind of
toothbrush
to use as
well as how
often to
replace your
brush.
First, the
type of
bristles you
select for
your
toothbrush
is very
important.
You should
steer clear
of a
toothbrush
that has
medium or
hard
bristles
because they
are too
coarse for
your gums
and can
actually
tear your
gums rather
than gently
massage
plaque
away.
Ideally a
soft or
extra soft
toothbrush
will
adequately
clean your
teeth and
gums as well
as preserve
your gum
tissue.
Second, a
toothbrush
should be
replaced
approximately
every six
months or
when you
begin to see
the bristles
show signs
of splaying
(when the
tips of the
bristles
begin to
deviate from
their
original
shape in an
outward
direction).
Once the
bristles
begin to
look worn or
splayed the
toothbrush
should be
disposed of
due to the
fact that
these
bristles can
also cause
microtears
in your gums
defeating
the purpose
of good oral
hygiene.
Please brush
for TWO
minutes, TWO
times a day
with a soft
toothbrush
in good
condition.
Following
these simple
steps will
hopefully
improve your
effectiveness
and will
afford you
the
opportunity
to have a
great
check-up
next time
you see your
dentist.
-Authored by
Robin Hogan,
DDS |
