Brushing your teeth twice a day is crucial for maintaining oral health due to the presence of species of oral bacteria in the mouth. Cleaning teeth, removing plaque without a modern toothbrush seems impossible these days. But, this was not the case a century ago.
What is a toothbrush? What’s the history behind it?
It plays a crucial role in removing teeth stains, preventing tooth decay, and gum disease that results in teeth loss. The first brush was invented in China around 1498. It had bamboo or bone handles and boar hairs as bristles. Then came the European version with bristles made from horsehairs. Nylon bristle toothbrushes with plastic handles were introduced around the 1950s, and have dominated markets since then.
Until the early 90s, people around the world also preferred using tooth stick, made from small tree branch sticks. But these days, electric and manual toothbrush dominates the scene.
What are the benefits of toothbrush?
Eating habits of people a century ago were different as they ate a balanced, nutrient-rich diet along with fibrous foods. Thus, they managed to maintain oral health even without using a brush or toothpaste.
But, that’s history! Even if you fail to brush your teeth for a single day, your teeth will turn yellow. Perhaps, you would also notice a layer of plaque by the end of the day. Bacterial plaque on the tooth surface can multiply and form micro-colonies. If ignored, it can lead to periodontal diseases, dental cavities, and chronic inflammation.
The processed food items that people eat every day prove to be detrimental to oral health. The starches and sugars from food items combine with plaque produce acid that damages the tooth enamel as well as promotes decay.
The level of trouble can be even higher for people who smoke cigarettes daily as it can cause stains on the teeth. Items like soda, sweets, baked goods, etc. can trigger the demineralization of the tooth even further.
The uses of the toothbrush for teeth are enormous. Brushing the front, side, and back teeth combined with flossing can ensure the plaque and harmful bacteria do not buildup on the teeth or between the gaps. Three to five minutes of brushing can ensure every tooth remains healthy.
Which are the different types of toothbrushes? Which toothbrush is good for teeth?
Several size, shape, and style options make the selection confusing. To make things simple, extra soft bristles, soft, medium, and firm-bristle toothbrushes are popular around the world. Dentists recommend soft bristles for all.
Dome shape, flat, or rippled, all three types of bristles can work fine until they are soft. Flexible neck handle is preferable as it can allow the bristles to reach all the corners of the mouth.
The toothbrush’s hardness and toothpaste quality play a key role in cleaning the bacteria, plaque. But remember, too much pressure can damage the sensitive tooth in your mouth.
A firm-bristled brush can be suitable only if the patient has specific oral health conditions. On the other hand, patients suffering from enamel erosion or weak tooth are urged to use the extra-soft option.
No doubt, harder bristles are capable of removing more plaque. However, they can damage the enamel and gums quickly. It is advisable to talk to your dental care expert before switching from soft to the hard toothbrush.
Soft vs. extra soft toothbrush
Extra Soft brush is also referred to as sulcus or periodontal toothbrush. Selected pharmacies, drug stores sell them as they are recommended only for patients suffering from periodontitis, bleeding gums, receding gums, gingivitis, or other gum diseases. They offer a gentle touch as they are designed to provide the benefits of brushing without causing discomfort.
On the other hand, soft toothbrushes are more like mediocre ones. They apply a little pressure on the teeth while cleaning. These are not good for teeth that show signs of enamel erosion.
Can a good quality electric toothbrush help?
While using a manual toothbrush, the user can make around 300 strokes each minute. On the other hand, an electric brush can make more than a thousand strokes and cover a larger area.
Several studies have pointed out that individuals who use electric brushes are lesser vulnerable to plaque and gum disease. Such toothbrush can prove to be of great help for people who cannot use their hand correctly.
You can select from battery-operated brushes with vibrating heads, rotating heads, and the ones that emit sonic sound waves. Dentists recommend the brush head size and type according to the patient’s teeth structure.
Tips for keeping the brush safe and clean
- It is advisable to keep the toothbrush in a clean surface.
- Toothbrush holder needs to be cleaned daily and keep all the brushes away from one another.
- Replace your toothbrush after three months.
- Avoid storing the brush in an air-tight plastic container. Instead, keep them in the medicine cabinet.
- Soak your toothbrush in mouthwash or hydrogen peroxide to clean it.
Fun facts about toothbrushes
- Until the 1940s, toothbrush bristles were made from pig hair, cow hair as well.
- An average person can end up spending between 35 to 38 days out of his lifetime in brushing.
- Dental care experts recommend patients to replace their toothbrush after every four months. But some people replace the same only after the brush loses more than half of its bristles.
If you need guidance to zero-in on the best possible brush that suits your teeth structure, you can always call and make an appointment at Roswell (GA) based TruCare Dentistry.