How to choose the right toothbrush: hard bristles, medium or soft

Man has always cared about the cleanliness and health of his teeth, as evidenced by the long and fascinating history of the toothbrush.

Archaeologists have found processed sticks in the tombs of Egypt, with one built-up and the other grinded. The first tip is like toothpick, removed food debris in the mouth, and chewed the second to remove plaque.

In Russia, during the time of Ivan the Terrible, the boyars, after a meal, used sticks with bristles attached to the tip. These sticks were called "tooth brooms".

It took centuries to create a modern hygiene product. The date of the invention of the modern mouth cleaner is considered June 28, 1498 in China. A small tuft of the toughest wild boar bristles was attached to a handle made of bone or bamboo. She came to Europe in the 17th century and at first became an outcast. For Europeans, the use of such a tool was considered indecent.

But in the middle of the 17th century, the French dentist Pierre Fauchard published his works under the title "Treatise on Teeth", with the help of which the toothbrush has become one of the most important tools for maintaining personal hygiene and maintaining oral health cavity.

Why is it important to choose the right brush?

Healthy teeth and beautiful smile are considered one of the main signs of a person's attractiveness and health. Enamel is the hardest tissue in the body, and our well-being depends in part on the health of our teeth.

Lack of proper oral care can cause inflammation and bleeding gums, and cariescausing discomfort and pain. Developing periodontitis provokes serious illness, increasing the risk of a heart attack. The vulnerability of the teeth increases in women while carrying a child, and bacteria living in the mouth can enter the placenta.

Everyone is different, so hygiene products must meet the needs of different people, and our health begins with a healthy oral cavity. How to choose the right one toothbrushwhat they are and what is the most the best, we'll talk in our article.

Toothbrush classification

They fall into many categories.

Purpose:

• hygienic;
• preventive;
• special purpose.

Age:

• for children aged 6 months to 6-7 years;
• for schoolchildren;
• for adults.

The packaging of the toothbrush must contain a marking of its rigidity:

• very soft;
• soft;
• medium hardness;
• tough;
• very tough.

Bristle type:

1. Artificial. They are made from nylon.
2. Natural. The material is animal bristles.

Rows of bristles:

• four-row;
• three-row;
• single-beam;
• low beam;
• double row, that is, "special purpose".

Trimming the brush field:

1. Straight. The bristles are cut evenly, in a row.
2. Concave. The haircut is done in a curve. The bristles are higher at the edges and lower in the center.
3. Conical. The bristles take the form of a cone.

Activation type:

1. Classic. The movements are carried out manually.
2. Electrical and ultrasonic. Activation is due to electricity.

Types of brushes and their advantages

According to their purpose and function, these means for cleaning teeth differ and are divided into such types.

Classic

A simple and convenient brush without any special features. Does not cause injuries if the rigidity is correctly selected. Easy to replace, used for cleaning sensitive teeth and for daily brushing.

The downside is the need for a long exposure time for high-quality cleaning (5-7 minutes).

Treatment-and-prophylactic

They have different levels of bristles with different tufts of stiffness. Each bundle affects different parts of the oral cavity and massages the gums.

Special purpose

They have a V-shaped recess that runs through the entire working part of the head. The arch of the orthodontic apparatus gets there, long bristles remove plaque like a whisk.

Ionic

This tool does not need a paste, or a very small amount can be applied. There is a titanium dioxide rod inside the tool handle. The principle of operation is a negative charge on the teeth and a positive charge on plaque. Negatively charged bristles attract plaque, which is destroyed at the molecular level.

When applying the paste, fluoride ions are repelled from the bristles and penetrate into the enamel, thereby strengthening it; in this case, saliva undergoes hydrolysis and oxygenation of the tissues of the oral cavity occurs, and the acid-base balance is restored. The difference between an ionic and a classic brush is that an ionic brush requires a wet finger to contact the handle.

Such a hygiene product is contraindicated for people with cancer, as well as for smokers, because the interaction of ions and nicotine destroys the walls of the mucous membranes.

Electrical

Such model very effective, but only in the presence of healthy enamel.

It removes 90% of all bacteria, softens and removes plaque, and prevents the formation of stones. This tool covers a larger area than normal.

They can be equipped with a pressure sensor to help prevent possible injury, and a timer to determine when to clean. Usually there is a speed regulator, where a low level is suitable for cleaning the tongue and gingival mucosa, and a high level is used for brushing teeth.

If used carelessly, such an instrument can damage the gums. Such a brush needs to be changed every 3 months, which is sometimes difficult to find. After some time, the tightness of the battery compartment is broken.

Contraindications: can not be used after surgery, with 3 degree teeth mobility, stomatitis and hypertrophic gingivitis.

Ultrasonic

They generate high frequency vibrational waves (ultrasound), causing the bristles to vibrate at a high frequency.

These waves separate the accumulated plaque, and the bristles brush it off, including in poorly accessible areas under the gum. At the same time, they have a therapeutic effect on the gums, restore enamel, and reduce the risk of calculus.

Plus this instrument in that it can be used for a sore oral cavity, if the usual cleaning is painful, as well as when wearing implants, braces, in case of need to limit the force of impact.

Their use is limited to 3 times in 7 days, they are contraindicated for people with cardiovascular diseases, blood diseases, epilepsy, oncological diseases of the oral cavities and pregnant women.

Degrees of hardness and types of bristles

The degree of stiffness determines the fiber diameter. Larger diameter means more rigidity and vice versa.

Degrees of hardness

According to the degree of hardness, mouth cleaners are:

1. Very soft (Sensitive). Suitable for everyone with diseases of hard tissues of the tooth and gums. This type of disease can be attributed to periodontitis with teeth mobility of 1 and 2 degrees, with undeveloped or damaged enamel, in its absence. Before buying, you need a dentist's recommendation.
2. Soft. Recommended for pregnant and lactating women, with bleeding gums or diabetes mellitus. Needs knowledge of correct and gentle cleaning.
3. Medium hardness (Medium). Recommended for use with a healthy oral cavity. This is the most popular type and is used by most people.
4. Hard. Suitable for people with strong stains (coffee or cigarettes). They can only be used with strong enamel and healthy teeth.
5. Very hard (Extra-Hard). This type is used for cleaning complete dentures, as well as fixed bridges and braces.

Types of bristles

Dentists' recommendation to use artificial material instead of natural, as synthetics have more advantages:

1. Lack of a median canal. Such a fiber has smoothness, no porosity, and no delamination. On the other hand, it cannot be kept under hot water, which can be done with natural.
2. Artificial fibers are less traumatic and better clean. Their tips are rounded and polished, which cannot be done with natural fibers, which delaminate with use.
3. Microbiological purity of fibers, as well as the possibility of disinfection.

For people with allergies to synthetics, brushes are created, in the manufacture of which only natural materials are used.

Features of the brush field

The bristles are collected in bunches and distributed over the working surface in a certain way. Of these, the following options are distinguished:

1. Sibling. It is safe for the gums and is suitable for cleaning the smooth and occlusive surfaces of the teeth.
2. Two-tier. Designed for effective cleaning of occlusive surfaces of teeth and plaque removal. Suitable when using braces.
3. Three-tier. Also designed for effective cleaning of teeth and braces.
4. Multilevel. They have a specific pattern and have a brush field that allows you to clean the surface and the spaces between the teeth.

Number of rows of bristles

Here, the mouth cleaning tool is divided into:

1. Four-row. There are 4 rows of beams. The most popular and optimal location.
2. Three-row. The bundles are arranged in 3 rows and are sold for both adults and children.
3. Single-beam represent a thin neck, at the end of which there is only one bunch. They are used in the presence of orthopedic and orthodontic structures.
4. Low beam. They have seven beams, where 6 are located in a circle, and 1 beam is in the center. They are also used for cleaning with the presence of orthodontic structures, with crowded teeth, while wearing cermets or implants.
5. Double-row type "Sulcus". They have a narrow head and two rows of bristle tufts on their surface. It is used as an auxiliary tool in the presence of certain structures.

How to choose a brush?

The choice depends entirely on the state and parameters of your oral cavity, namely:

• various gum diseases;
• the presence of a stone;
• curvature of teeth and the distance between them;
• the presence of structures, fillings, braces.

The classic brushing tool is suitable for most people: it has a low price and high efficiency, which depends entirely on the ability to properly brush your teeth. It is convenient to take it on any trip.

Hygienic ones are mainly used for the treatment of orthopedic structures. They have low efficiency and are rarely used for other purposes.

Treatment and prophylaxis are suitable for people with gum weakness who need ease of use and massage (stimulation) of the gums.

Special-purpose products are intended for auxiliary cleaning of the oral cavity, which are also used for occlusion anomalies, periodontal diseases or the presence of structures.

The choice of an electric brush is no different from the choice of a conventional one, except for new parameters: head movement and work speed. You can use them no more than twice a week.

Working surface

It is recommended to choose a hygiene product that has a long working surface, because it covers several teeth at once. Its head should be rounded so as not to injure the oral mucosa. If it has a soft and rough back side, then it will clean not only the teeth and interdental spaces, but also the oral mucosa.

Stubble

Care should be taken to ensure that the bristles of the toothbrush are trimmed and straight. Otherwise, its origin may not be known, and the tool itself may not be safe to use.

For children and patients with periodontal disease, soft bristles are suitable, which will not damage the gums. Brushing your teeth too poorly can lead to plaque buildup. Stiff bristles are suitable for people with a healthy oral cavity. But you should not use such a brush too hard, as it can damage the enamel. Dentists recommend choosing a medium hardness that combines safety and good cleaning.

Colour

The bristles can have a different color, which disappears with wear. This gives a signal that it is time to change the hygiene product.

Care and replacement rules

If you do not want to turn your brush into a repository of pathogenic bacteria, you must use individual glasses or dividers, since the brushes of different people should be separated if they are nearby. Germs spread quickly when touched, especially when the owner of one of the brushes is sick. Contact of hygiene products of an adult with children is not allowed.

Darkness, moisture and cool temperatures are the most optimal environment for bacteria to live. The bathroom fits this description. According to research, dentifrices stored in such an environment retain up to 50% of the herpes virus for one week. At the same time, on them, when stored within a radius of 2 meters to the toilet, new bacteria appear on the bristles after each flushing of water, since water particles, together with bacteria, spread in the air, after which they settle on those lying nearby subjects.

You need a brush keep in well-lit, dry places. It cannot be kept in a case, and it dries poorly. This option is only valid for travel, and if you have to take it with you on a trip, then you need to let it dry before putting it in the case.

Research has shown that transparent bristles have half the bacteria as dyed ones. Boiling for 15 minutes will soften the toothbrush and kill bacteria, but it will halve its lifespan. To reduce bacteria, you can rinse it with an antibacterial mouthwash.

Artificial bristles are best stored: for this they are dipped in a glass with a solution of soap. Before use, the bristles are well washed under the pressure of water. Instead of a solution, you can rub them on a bar of soap after use.

Oral products change every 3 months. After three months, it wears out a lot and removes plaque much worse, and the bristles are damaged and reach only the most prominent areas.

A hygiene product must be replaced after an illness (colds, flu, tonsillitis). Bacteria accumulate on the bristles, which can lead to reinfection.

Output

Summing up, there are several key rules for choosing a brush:

• the strong recommendation of dentists is to use artificial bristles;
• medium hardness is best for most patients;
• a four-row brush, if necessary, can be combined with any special-purpose tool, depending on the situation;
• it is better not to use hygiene products that are too small or large, as the efficiency of the cleaning process decreases;
• brushes with a complex brush field are recommended;
• Flexible neck cleaners are the most efficient to use.