Choice of toothbrush
The choice of the toothbrush is extremely important: there is no right or wrong toothbrush ... what matters is to choose it according to your needs, to the state of health of your teeth and, of course, also to your tastes.
Its size is also important: an ideal toothbrush should be small enough to be able to reach all tooth surfaces.
Before proceeding with the description, it is important to dwell briefly on the structural characteristics of a toothbrush. This important dental cleaning tool consists of:
- HEAD: the upper part equipped with cleaning bristles
- HANDLE: the handle of the toothbrush
Toothbrush head
Let's get to the point: what are the criteria for choosing the right toothbrush?
- Choice of toothbrush head: To facilitate cleaning of the teeth, the head of a toothbrush should be quite small: approximately, the size of the brush head should not exceed 2.5 cm in length and there should be no more than 4 tufts of bristles in width. Another important feature is the shape of the toothbrush head, which should be rounded and have no edges to avoid traumatizing the gums and palate. Do not forget, then, that the brush head should not have cracks in the area where the tufts of bristles are attached: this is to prevent bacteria from lurking among the bristles. As mentioned, some toothbrushes are equipped with a special tongue cleaner behind the head; others, on the other hand, have special rubber or latex fins on the sides of the head, whose function is to massage the gum while brushing the teeth.
Some toothbrushes are equipped with a flexible head, to ensure more effective cleaning (especially in the area of the tongue and palate). The flexible head favors the perfect adaptation of the bristles of the toothbrush even on the jagged surface of the molars.
- Choice of toothbrush bristles:
NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC BRISTLES
It is a good rule to avoid the use of toothbrushes with natural bristles: these, in fact, not only risk damaging the gums, but also retain the bacteria inside them, thus increasing the chances of developing cavities. You should therefore prefer a toothbrush equipped with artificial bristles, able to effectively improve cleaning and facilitate brushing In the table, the advantages and disadvantages of natural and synthetic bristles are schematically shown.
Why avoid a natural bristle toothbrush Why prefer a synthetic bristle toothbrush - Natural bristles tend to break and come off easily
- They hold bacteria in them more easily
- They consist of organic material which, in contact with water, tends to ferment and rot
- The bristles remain moist
- They are very irregular and of different diameters
- The tip is not rounded but jagged
- Being hollow, the natural bristles retain food residues inside them, thus feeding the development of bacteria
- Artificial bristles do not break easily
- They are firmly seated in the brush head
- The diameter of the artificial bristles is uniform
- They can be rounded at the tip (essential feature to avoid scratching the dental enamel)
- They are not hollow → they do not collect bacteria or food residues inside them
- They do not absorb water
- They dry quickly
HARDNESS OF THE BRISTLES OF THE TOOTHBRUSH
Particularly suitable are toothbrushes equipped with heads formed by distinct tufts of bristles with rounded tips. By "medium toothbrush" s "we mean a toothbrush with medium bristles (synthetic fiber diameter between 0.2 and 0.25 mm): in general, medium bristles are the most popular on the market. Don't forget, however. , that the soft bristles, able to brush the teeth as if they were feathers, are particularly indicated in case of dentinal hypersensitivity. The delicacy of the soft bristles reduces the risk of damaging the dental enamel and irritating the gums. The hard bristle brushes, on the other hand, which are particularly resistant and tenacious in brushing, are not suitable for all types of teeth. It is strongly recommended to avoid the use of these brushes in case of gingivitis, gum retraction and sensitive teeth.
Today, on the market, there are many types of heads: the arrangement of the tufts of bristles can be such as to form a uniform, wavy, domed or multi-level cleaning surface. Each person can choose the toothbrush that best suits their personal needs or tastes. - Choice of the brush handle: the brush handle is also very important to simplify dental cleaning. There are some "non-slip" models, indicated to facilitate the grip of the instrument and prevent the brush from "slipping" from the hands during brushing, hit the gums. The handle of the toothbrush is generally made of plastic, an important feature to guarantee its impermeability from humidity. The handle can be straight or slightly curved, in order to facilitate the support for the thumb or to encourage the cleaning of the teeth further down. disability.
- The shape and colors of the toothbrush can be chosen according to your needs.
Ideal toothbrush
An ideal toothbrush should have the following characteristics:- Suitable for the needs of each person in terms of shape, size and structure
- Excellent functional properties: effective in removing food residues and plaque from the surface of the teeth and interdental spaces, easy to slide, easy to handle
- Gentle for the gums
- Durable and low cost
- Short head with numerous tufts of synthetic bristles with rounded tips
- Comfortable and non-slip handle
- It should not contain latex (ideal feature to allow latex allergy sufferers to use the toothbrush)
- Odorless
- Tasteless
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