|
Toothbrushes
The first line of defense against tooth decay,
toothbrushes work with toothpaste
to remove
food and plaque from the surfaces
of teeth.
As a trip to the drug store will
confirm,
there are dozens of styles, mostly
"high
tech," as companies strive
to create
the best toothbrush.
There are three categories of
toothbrushes:
- manual toothbrushes - models vary along the
lines of grips, shape of the handle (flat
or bent), head size, and bristle pattern.
- electric toothbrushes - these models use an electric motor to
oscillate the toothbrush head in either a
circular or back and forth motion.
- electronic toothbrushes - these models include
the popular Sonicare brush which vibrates
the brush at a much high speed than an electric
toothbrush.
Which toothbrush is best for you? The Academy
of General Dentistry recommends that "a
toothbrush head should be small (1"
by 1/2") for easy access to all areas
of the mouth, teeth and gums. It should have
a long, wide handle for a firm grasp. It
should have soft nylon bristles with rounded
ends so you won't hurt your gums." However,
they assert that "no body of scientific
evidence exists yet to show that any one
type of toothbrush design is better at removing
plaque than another. The only thing that
matters is that you brush your teeth."
They do concede that the electric/electronic
brushes may be more effective because they
allow people to clean more thoroughly faster. |
|
|
