All about toothbrushes

For starters, a brief excursion into the history of creating a toothbrush

In 1728, the French doctor Pierre Foschard first told the world that it is necessary to brush your teeth, every day. And at the end of the XIX century, French microbiologist Louis Pasteur suggested that tooth disease was caused by germs, so you need to not only brush your teeth but also disinfect your brushes with boiling water. After boiling, toothbrushes quickly became unusable, since they were made of natural materials, they had to be changed more often.

In the mid-twentieth century, American dentist Robert Hutson decided to replace natural bristles with artificial material, namely soft nylon. Such bristles were stiff and scratched the enamel of the teeth. Therefore, Hutson proposed to "cut" the bristles and round their tips, and further increased their number.

In 1954, the Swiss Dr. Philip-Guy Voog invented the first electric toothbrush. The first electric brushes were electrically rotated. They had a significant disadvantage of their owners, they could be electrocuted, so they were considered unsafe.

Significant progress in more careful teeth cleaning was made after the development of sound toothbrushes (Braun Oral B-3D, Sonicart, Panasonic). In the mid-1990s, Dr. Robert Bock patented a two-frequency Ultrasonex ultrasound brush. After extensive research, American and British scientists have come to the conclusion that only an electric toothbrush - Braun Oral-B, which performs rotationally oscillatory movements, acts much more effectively than a conventional mechanical brush.
Due to the oscillations, a soft plaque is loosened, it is "swept" from the tooth surface by rotating motions. Another distinctive feature of the modern toothbrush is the rounded bristle. It is the least traumatic for the oral cavity. Modern production methods allow you to create toothbrushes of various shapes, colors and sizes.

How to choose the right toothbrush

To begin with, you need to visit a dentist, have a professional oral hygiene. The doctor will evaluate the condition of your teeth and gums, and only then will he be able to recommend a toothbrush that will be right for you.

By type of brush are:

• mechanical are ordinary toothbrushes;
• electric ones operate from the built-in battery into the toothbrush handle, reproducing back-sweeping, back-rotating, pulsating-oscillating motions that generate negatively charged ions.

Toothbrushes are:

Very soft and soft (ultra-soft, extra soft, sensitive, soft) can be used after surgery in the oral cavity only for the period of healing, also suitable for people with diabetes or if you have sensitive gums, and of course same soft brushes are suitable for children during the period of dental bite;

Medium created for people who have no problems in the oral cavity, suitable for almost everyone, only in some cases you need to brush another stiffness;

Hard and very hard are very rarely suitable for people who have braces installed, lining plates or dental bridges, it is worth remembering that using a hard brush you run the risk of damaging the tooth enamel.

The material used to make the bristles may be natural, but mostly synthetic, as it is more hygienic.

What to look for when choosing a toothbrush

• The length of the working head should cover 2-2.5 teeth, for children 18-25 mm, for adults 30 mm;
• A brush with rounded edges will minimize injuries to the oral mucosa;
• The attachment of the brush head to the handle should be movable as this will reduce the pressure on the teeth and gums;
• The toothbrush handle should rest comfortably in your hand.

Care of toothbrushes

Every family member should have their own individual toothbrush, which is understood by everyone, but not everyone knows when storing the brushes. Baby brushes should be kept separate from adults, however, as well as adult brushes, should be kept separate from other family members. Because each person has its own individual microflora in the mouth. In adults, many germs in the mouth, the presence of caries and its complications, so the germs of an adult can get into the brush of a child or other adult, and provoke various inflammatory processes.

There is a theory of caries development by infection from person to person when drinking from one bottle or cup, kissing, eating from one cutlery, etc.

Before and after cleaning, always rinse your toothbrush thoroughly under hot running water.

Store in a well-ventilated area away from the toilet, as when flushed, the micro droplets fly far enough to reach the surface of the brush.

It is necessary to dry the brush, carefully shaking the water from it, and do not store it in the case at home. The case for the toothbrush should be used during transportation, making sure that there is no contact with other liquid hygiene products.

Once a week, the toothbrush can be disinfected with a few drops of alcohol solution or hydrogen peroxide, dripped on the bristles.

After treatment of gingivitis, stomatitis, removal of dental deposits the brush should be replaced.

The brush should be changed at least every 3 months. Bacteria from your mouth live on the brush, after 3 months of using them on the brush becomes very much, the bacteria multiply, and no disinfection will no longer help.

How to determine which brush is time to replace other than marking the dates on the calendar?

The bristles become "torn" and do not hold their original shape, such a brush is already very poorly coped with its function. Many companies of manufacturers of toothbrushes make color indication (marking) on the bristles, the discoloration of which indicates the need to replace this toothbrush with a new one.

Before you buy a toothbrush, we recommend that you consult a dentist who can evaluate your oral health, take into account all the features of your teeth and the condition of your gums. And only after a thorough examination, the doctor will be able to make recommendations for oral hygiene at home. It will help pick up a toothbrush and paste that will meet your oral needs.