To Take Care of Your Teeth Right, Choose Your Toothbrush Wisely!
Proper dental care Milwaukee includes choosing the right toothbrush...
From a young age, people are taught that if you brush and floss your teeth regularly, you’ll be taking good care of your teeth.
However, not all toothbrushes are created equal, and it is possible to think you’re brushing properly when actually you’re doing more damage than good. Follow these basic guidelines for proper home care and you should see great results. (Hint: The best toothbrush - the best manual toothbrush and even the best electric toothbrush - is the one you use right!)
Save that Hard-Bristled Brush for Scrubbing the Grout!
People often think that the harder the bristles in their toothbrush, the better they clean. In fact, a softer-bristled brush will be more effective.
When a soft brush is used with light pressure, the bristles actually wrap around the tooth like a blanket and flow into the intricate space between the tooth and gums as well as under the contact point between teeth. Hard and even medium bristles cannot do this; in fact, stiffer bristles can only clean the outermost, flat part of the tooth and may even abrade the teeth and gums causing damage and sensitivity.
We joke with our patients all the time, saying, “save your hard-bristled toothbrush for scrubbing the grout in the shower!”
Whatever you do, don’t use these hard-bristled brushes on your teeth! Not only are they too stiff to access the important area under your gum line, but also they’re potentially damaging your teeth if you use abrasive toothpaste (see below).
When you’re in the market for a new brush come see us or look for the ones that say, “Soft” or “Soft Bristles” on the packaging. Or better yet, go with a professional Oral –B mechanical brush. We stock brushes that inspire our confidence: they are safe and will do a great job cleaning your teeth.
Consider a Mechanical Brush
At Cigno Family Dental, we’re big fans of the Oral – B professional mechanical toothbrushes because they are so effective. Some brushes actually have sensors in them that will let you know if you’re pressing too hard on the tooth.
Our favorite line of electric toothbrush is Oral B (in fact, that’s the brush the Cigno family uses at home!). If you’re considering a mechanical toothbrush, we suggest coming into the office and picking up a professional-grade Oral B that you cannot buy at the drugstore. Once you purchase this brush, we’ll show you how to properly use it and how to use the different brush heads. It’s important to understand any tool used improperly or without proper instructions can actually be more damaging than not using the tool at all.
The professional-grade Oral B is especially effective because it has different brush heads for different needs. This toothbrush comes with special brush heads for braces, dental implants, and other unique dental needs.
Learn How to Brush
The thing we hate hearing most from a patient is this: “But I’m brushing every day! Why isn’t it working?”
Those two sentences break our hearts! Unfortunately, simply brushing isn’t going to make the cut – you have to know how to brush your teeth in a way that truly removes plaque and bacteria.
If you’d like a tutorial, stop by our office and we’ll be happy to show you. In the meantime, here are a couple of pointers...
Angle your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the tooth and gum. Brush in a circular motion rather than scrubbing back and forth (which can wear grooves into the side of the teeth), and make sure to touch all areas of the mouth.
Avoid Natural Toothpaste
Most people don’t know that toothpaste isn’t actually necessary to get the job done. It’s actually the action of the bristles against your teeth that makes the act of brushing your teeth effective.
That said, if you use an abrasive, all-natural toothpaste you should check the ingredients carefully. Some natural toothpastes use little crushed shells or similar ingredients that can carve grooves in the teeth when used regularly.
Toothpaste can be very personal, but any over-the-counter brand like Crest or Colgate will work just find. Take note that whitening toothpastes of any kind use abrasives that will only polish away slight surface stains and can damage your enamel (if you want whiter teeth, we have very effective, safe, easy and cost-effective solutions available in our office. It’s easy - just ask!).
Would you like to come in for a cleaning, or purchase a professional grade Oral B mechanical toothbrush? Call us today at (414) 377-4604 to get started.
PSST! Hey, Packers fans – want to show your support for the team? Every Tuesday and Thursday in September our office will be decked out in Packer gear. You’re invited to our tailgate parties on September 3rd, 14th and 28th. All you have to do is come on by the office! We’ll provide the hot dogs, chips and sodas – no RSVP necessary!