Our ancestors depended mostly on twigs or tooth brush with boar's hair as bristles to maintain their oral hygiene. Modern tooth brushes came into being with the introduction of nylon bristles by a company called DuPont de Nemours in 1938. Now, with the advent of commercialism an array of choices are available which leaves one perplexed as to what would be ideal for one's need.
Regardless of the company, there are a few characteristics that one should look for in a toothbrush before buying it. First the size of tooth brush should be considered. The head of the brush should allow easy access to all surfaces of the teeth; hence a tooth brush head half an inch wide and one inch tall would be most effective. For children it is half of the adult size. The handle of the brush should be long enough to be comfortable for manipulation.
Second the bristle variety needs to be checked. The four available options in today's market are hard, medium, soft and ultra soft. Although Hard and Medium brushes tend to satiate the patient in effectively cleaning the tooth, these brushes cause more damages to enamel and the gums. There is a common myth that brushing with a hard brush and with force will result in shiny and clean teeth. On the contrary this leads to sensitivity and wearing away of the gums. Hard bristle brushes are mostly for cleaning removable dentures. Medium bristles are effective but are more technique sensitive, so if not used effectively will result in damages similar to hard bristle brushes. Soft bristle brushes are the most effective (according to studies) in removing plaque and deposits and does not cause harm to the enamel and the gums. Ultra soft bristle brushes are mostly advised for patients who are suffering from gum diseases.
The third criteria that needs to be checked while picking one's brush is whether the brush is powered or manual. According to various researchers powered brushes are more effective in plaque and debris removal compared to manual tooth brushes. Powered brushes have a predetermined motion hence the motion and force of the brush is controlled. This in turn minimizes damage and ineffective cleaning. Damage and ineffective cleaning is very likely to occur from the faulty technique of a manual brush.
Powered brushes are an expert's recommendation. However, a manual brush with the right bristle and a correct technique is also effective in maintaining a healthy smile.
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