We all use a toothbrush every day. The toothbrush is incredibly important for proper dental care as it is the only tool that is used to clean the surfaces of your teeth. Other dental hygiene tools, like floss, are used for cleaning in between the teeth and mouthwash is a germ killer. So it’s vital that your toothbrush does the right job, otherwise you could be left with stains, cavities, and worse problems.
One of the most common questions people ask me is what is the best kind toothbrush to use?
With the extensive number of different toothbrush options on the market, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. This blog post will provide you with some background information to help make sure you choose a toothbrush that cleans your teeth well.
My personal favorite and the kind I recommend to all my patients is an electric toothbrush.
Why are electric toothbrushes superior? Here are some reasons why:
1. They usually have a timer.
The timer on an electric toothbrush beeps every 30 seconds indicating that you should move to a different quadrant of your mouth. This means you will get 1 minute for the top teeth and 1 minute for the bottom teeth.
Some people tend to brush more on one side of their mouth versus the other. So the timer is a good way to make sure all your teeth are getting cleaned properly.
It is also a great way to teach kids to brush their teeth. Having them listen for the timer will not only help them brush evenly, but also help them develop good habits
2. They prevent the need to “scrub” your teeth
The second advantage of electric toothbrushes is that you don’t have to “scrub” your teeth. You just hold the toothbrush against your teeth and move it back and forth gently. This minimizes the chance of “over brushing” which can happen from using a regular toothbrush.
Although the intention is to ensure your teeth are clean, there are many negative effects of over brushing.
If you are brushing too vigorously you could be removing more than just stains and plaque build up. You are likely wearing down the tooth enamel, something known as tooth abrasion, which can lead to tooth sensitivity.
You are also at risk of causing damage to the gums, pushing the gums down and exposing the sensitive root area. Receding gums can cause serious dental problems. These problems include diseases such as periodontal disease. As well as cavities which can lead to fillings, root canals and tooth extraction.
There is absolutely such a thing as getting too much of a good thing when it comes to brushing your teeth. Electric toothbrushes help to ensure your teeth are getting clean but not too clean.
3. They can remove some staining
The third advantage is that electric toothbrushes can also remove some staining from your teeth.
If you are someone who is looking to remove stains or whiten your teeth, you are not alone. The most important step to stain removal is brushing your teeth well and brushing them regularly.
There are additional ways to kickstart the stain removal process such as:
- Brushing with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide
- Whitening toothpaste
- Whitening strips
As seen in the section above, over brushing with the intention to remove plaque and prevent stains can cause major damage to the teeth. It is still possible to over brush with an electric toothbrush. But with very little force the electric toothbrush is more efficient than a normal toothbrush. This is due to the vibrating toothbrush bristles that dislodge stain particles from your teeth.
So if you drink a lot of coffee, or red wine, your teeth are less likely to get stained if you use an electric toothbrush.
The Electric Toothbrush I use
The one that I use is an Oral-B Professional Care 3000 Electric Toothbrush. I like it because the bristles are soft and the vibration is not so strong that it gives you a headache.
I have been very happy using this toothbrush for a while. The smaller head size makes it easy to get waaaay in the back where bigger toothbrushes can’t reach.
No matter what kind of toothbrush you decide to use, the most important thing is to brush twice a day. And of course, don’t forget to floss!!
Need Help?
If you are experiencing any discomfort or notice anything different about your oral health contact us to book an appointment! LA Dental Clinic is a full-service dental clinic and would be happy to assist you with your dental needs.