With all the variety of toothbrushes available today, it can be difficult to choose which one is best for you. Travel down the dental aisle at the grocery store, and you might be intimidated with the wide assortment of colors, sizes, designs and brands, but there’s no need to be confused. Just keep in mind the primary role of a toothbrush is to help remove plaque and bacteria from the surface of your teeth. Nearly all toothbrushes are designed to meet that goal.
Added Toothbrush Features
Some toothbrushes offer specialized features that might help to maintain your oral health. For instance, the electric toothbrush offers an oscillating or vibrating head to further scrub the plaque and bacteria from your teeth. Many versions have come down in price in the recent years, making them more available for modest budgets.
Another recent feature is a high-speed vibration that moves so fast it produces an audible hum. These are called sonic toothbrushes, but they still rely on brush movements to clean your teeth. Some higher-end models produce over 50,000 movements per minute. Another style of sonic toothbrush uses high-frequency sonic pulses to directly dislodge the plaque and debris from your teeth without movement. Most models still have bristles to brush away the remnants.
Many electric toothbrushes now include a timer to help you keep to the recommended two-minute brushing or pressure sensors to give a warning if you tend to overbrush. Some styles of toothbrush offer larger handles for better grip. Still others have adjustable modes for different areas of your mouth, including a sensitive setting or a message setting. A few now come with phone apps to assist you in brushing technique or timing.
Calculate the Cost
Again, the main function of a toothbrush is to get the plaque, bacteria, and food particles away from your teeth and gums. In some cases, many of the features listed above might be unnecessary for your oral health, or perhaps the added feature is more of a luxury. The best way to verify what your oral health really needs is to discuss the subject with your dentist at the Placerville Dental Group. We understand the current status of your teeth and gums. Perhaps you need help getting in between tight-fitting teeth, in which case your focus might be better placed on flossing as opposed to sonic features. Then again, an oscillating electric toothbrush could serve your teeth better than a dollar store manual toothbrush. Maybe you could use a favorite song or stopwatch to help you keep time with your brushing, so you don’t have to invest in a toothbrush with built-in timers or reminders.
Of course, the final decision is up to you — the more comfortable you feel with your toothbrush, the more likely you’ll use it, and that’s the key. Make sure your toothbrush is easy to use, comfortable to handle, and uses soft bristles s0 it doesn’t irritate your gums. The Placerville Dental Group is happy to help you find just the right toothbrush to keep your smile at its best. Let’s discuss what kind of attention your teeth and gums need at your next checkup. You can also give us a call or schedule an appointment online. There’s no need to face unnecessary costs in toothbrushes or oral health with the Placerville Dental Group on your side.
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