Do I have the Right toothbrush?
It's a good question to ask. Of course, you want to go with your dentist's advice under all circumstances (or find a better dentist if you don't like his / her answers!)
But, here are some things to think about.
Are you using a super soft toothbrush? The softer the better. Hard and medium bristles may be hard on your gums and could even potentially cause erosion of gum tissue. So, going with the softest toothbrush possible is a good idea.
Along with this is should come the understanding that brushing HARD is NOT the right thing to do. I think a lot of people have the mental conception that they some how have to SCRUB hard to clean teeth. This is actually not good.
The purpose of brushing is to disrupt plaque. Plaque is relatively easy to disrupt. The secret is doing it consistently and constantly. But brushing hard is completely unnecessary and could even potentially be harmful.
So brush gently, just do it frequently. Ask your dental professional if you are not sure about how often.
For me personally, several times a day is what I like.
Should I use an electric or manual toothbrush?
Great question. I know the electric toothbrush industry claims their brushes are safe for gum tissue. I'm not convinced that is true. Again, consult with your dentist.
I do use an electric toothbrush but I keep it away from my gums. I like to go back over gently with a manual toothbrush around the gum line. I also use dental floss and a perio-aid. A perio-aid is essentially a blunted toothpick on a plastic holder that you use to trace around the gum line. Be sure to ask your periodontist how to use one properly.
The final thing I want you to think about is:
Brushing is great and it should be done. But the biggest question I have is: Is brushing enough?
I don't think it is enough by itself and I'll tell you the reason why. Dental professionals tell us that about 75% of people have gum disease right now! That's 3 out of every 4 people.
I know there are people out there who do a poor job of brushing and flossing. But I think there are a lot of people who do these things quite well and they still end up with gum disease.
This is a problem because gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss. Losing teeth is expensive and no artificial device is going to be as good as the original. I can only think of how George Washington must of suffered with his primitive dentures.
So, what do I think you should add to your daily routine that can help you to avoid, prevent and even lessen the ravages of gum disease?
No comments :
Post a Comment