There isn’t a brand of toothbrushes that I recommend for my patients to use. In general, Colgate can be just as good as Oral B, or even some of the brands that aren’t known as well such as Orbitol. What really is key is the tooth-brushing technique:
- Use a soft or extra-soft toothbrush. An electric toothbrush can be a great enhancement of the daily dental routine for many patients, but it isn’t absolutely necessary for all patients. Your dentist will be able to guide you as to whether(and which kind of ) an electric toothbrush would enhance your oral health.
- Apply only light pressure to the teeth when brushing. A common misconception is that “the harder I brush, the better I brush.” In fact, excess pressure on the teeth can cause toothbrush abrasion- where you actually create craters on the surfaces of your teeth from brushing too hard. These craters may then need to be filled in by your dentist. The second problem (and even more common) is that you push the gums down, creating gum recession. Both of these clinical manifestations of brushing too hard can noted by your dentist at your regular biannual dental exam.
- Brush twice daily. Morning and night. Best after breakfast in the morning and before bed at night. Make sure that you are brushing for 2-3 minutes. This way you can ensure that all tooth surfaces are paid the proper attention to.
- Even though this is a piece about tooth brushing, I will thrown in here that flossing once daily is critical for your long term dental health. Flossing goes hand in hand with tooth brushing.
- Replace your toothbrush every 3 months, or as soon as the bristles start bending.
- Schedule an exam (check-up) and professional dental cleaning with your dentist at least every 6 months in order to maintain the health of your teeth and gums.
Contact Your Jerusalem Dentists, Dr. Simone Landau and Associates, for further information.