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Choosing the Right Toothbrush for Your Oral Hygiene Needs

Most people know it is very important to brush twice a day, for at least two minutes each time, but many of us don’t really think about their choice of toothbrush. It’s all too easy to go into the nearest chemist or supermarket, and to simply choose the same brand as you’ve always used, or to go for the one on special offer, but is this necessarily the best? While you might have struck it lucky, and may already be using the perfect brush for your needs, it is worth while giving the matter some thought, as having the right tools for the job is an easy way to help perfect your oral hygiene Leeds routine, and to help lessen your chances of requiring any extensive dental work at Leeds City Dentalcare.

Things to Look Out for When Choosing your Toothbrush

• Size of the brush head. The perfect sized brush should be one you can easily use on all your tooth surfaces, even right at the back of the mouth. Choosing a bigger brush head won’t necessarily help you get the job done any faster, but will almost certainly mean you can’t reach all your tooth surfaces. If you have a particularly small mouth then you may even want to choose a child-sized brush; it really doesn’t matter if it gives you greater access.
• Type of bristles. Most people will be better off choosing a toothbrush with softer bristles, especially if they are prone to scrubbing hard at their teeth. Using a hard or medium bristled brush won’t clean teeth any more effectively, but could cause damage to the teeth and gums. Our Leeds dental surgery does see a number of patients who have brushed their teeth too vigorously, causing the gum tissue to recede. It is also best to look for a brush that has rounded bristles as this will be more comfortable and safer to use.

Electric or Manual

Our dentist Leeds at Leeds City Dentalcare are often asked which is best, an electric or manual toothbrush? The truth is that the choice is down to personal preference and good technique. If you prefer to use a manual toothbrush and have a very good brushing technique then you should be able to adequately remove the build-up of plaque bacteria from your teeth and gums. A review looked at nearly thirty different studies on whether it was better to use a manual or electric toothbrush, and concluded there was little difference between them, although oscillating toothbrushes could prove slightly more effective than a manual brush. These are the brushes where the bristles move round and round and back and forth.

However anyone who finds it difficult to hold a manual toothbrush, or who has problems with their dexterity may want to think about investing in an electric toothbrush. They can also include a number of useful features such as built in timers which let you know when it is time to move onto the next section of your mouth, and sensors that let you know if you are scrubbing too hard. Ultimately it is your choice, and an electric brush can be a bit of an investment.

If you’d like more tips on how to brush properly, or how to improve your oral hygiene routine then please do ask one of our hygienists for advice when you next visit Leeds City Dentalcare, or you can always talk to Dr David Brown or another of our dentists about your dental needs.

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