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A Look At Toothbrushes

Toothbrush designs have certainly come a long way in the past 5000 years. Graduating from the use of twigs, to toothbrushes crafted with bone that held the stiff bristles of hogs, boars or other animals. The nylon-bristled toothbrush, as we know it today, was invented in 1938.

In today’s marketplace we are bombarded with a vast array of both manual and powered toothbrushes with different shapes, sizes, angles, and bristle types.

When comparing the effectiveness of manual and powered toothbrushes, studies have indicated that there is no evidence to suggest that powered toothbrushes are any more effective than the good old manual toothbrush at cleaning your teeth.

Powered toothbrushes are however great for handicapped or bedridden patients, patients with orthodontic appliances and patients lacking fine motor skills. Children can also find the use of a powered toothbrush fun, and that is a great thing.

So next time you are at the supermarket with hundreds of toothbrushes looking at you, look for a toothbrush with the following qualities -

  • Soft bristles - Soft bristles are more flexible, clean beneath the gingival margin and are less likely to damage your gums resulting in gingival recession.
  • Small head - which enables you to clean those hard-to-reach areas of the mouth.
  • Handle – which enables a comfortable grip.

So whether you decide on a manual or powered toothbrush, choose a toothbrush that you like and find easy to use, so that you’ll use it twice daily to thoroughly clean all of your tooth surfaces.