Frequently asked questions

First of all, one that does not injure the gums during use. At the same time, the quality of hygiene oral cavity depends more on whether your teeth are brushed correctly than on the shape or type of toothbrush. As for electric brushes, for uninformed people they are a more preferable option; although you can clean your teeth efficiently with a simple (manual) brush. In addition, a toothbrush alone is often not enough - floss (special dental floss) must be used to clean between the teeth.

Rinse aid is optional hygiene products, which effectively cleanse the entire oral cavity from harmful bacteria. All these products can be divided into two large groups - therapeutic and preventive and hygienic.

The latter include rinses that eliminate bad smell and promote fresh breath.

As for therapeutic and prophylactic ones, these include rinses that have anti-plaque/anti-inflammatory/anti-carious effects and help reduce the sensitivity of hard dental tissues. This is achieved due to the presence in the composition various kinds biologically active ingredients. Therefore, the rinse aid must be selected individually for each specific person, as well as toothpaste. And since the product is not washed off with water, it only consolidates the effect of the active ingredients of the paste.

This type of cleaning is completely safe for dental tissues and causes less trauma. soft fabrics oral cavity. The point is that in dental clinics a special level of ultrasonic vibrations is selected, which affects the density of the stone, disrupts its structure and separates it from the enamel. In addition, in places where tissues are treated with an ultrasonic scaler (this is the name of the device for cleaning teeth), a special cavitation effect occurs (after all, oxygen molecules are released from water droplets, which enter the treatment area and cool the tip of the instrument). Cell membranes pathogenic microorganisms are torn apart by these molecules, causing the microbes to die.

It turns out that ultrasonic cleaning has a comprehensive effect (provided that really high-quality equipment is used) both on the stone and on the microflora as a whole, cleansing it. But the same cannot be said about mechanical cleaning. Moreover, ultrasonic cleaning more pleasant for the patient and takes less time.

According to dentists, dental treatment should be carried out regardless of your situation. Moreover, a pregnant woman is recommended to visit the dentist every one to two months, because, as you know, when carrying a baby, the teeth are significantly weakened, suffer from a deficiency of phosphorus and calcium, and therefore the risk of developing caries or even tooth loss increases significantly. For the treatment of pregnant women it is necessary to use harmless means anesthesia. The most appropriate course of treatment should be selected exclusively by a qualified dentist, who will also prescribe the required medications that strengthen the tooth enamel.

It is quite difficult to treat wisdom teeth due to their anatomical structure. However, qualified specialists successfully treat them. Wisdom teeth prosthetics are recommended when one (or more) adjacent tooth is missing or needs to be removed (if you also remove a wisdom tooth, then there will simply be nothing to chew). In addition, removal of a wisdom tooth is undesirable if it is located on the jaw right place, has its own antagonist tooth and takes part in the chewing process. It should also be taken into account the fact that poor quality treatment can lead to the most serious complications.

Here, of course, a lot depends on a person’s taste. So, there are absolutely invisible systems attached to inside teeth (known as lingual), and there are also transparent ones. But the most popular are still metal braces systems having non-ferrous metal/elastic ligatures. It's really fashionable!

To begin with, it is simply unattractive. If this is not enough for you, we present the following argument - tartar and plaque on the teeth often provoke bad breath. Is this not enough for you? In this case, we move on: if tartar “grows”, this will inevitably lead to irritation and inflammation of the gums, that is, it will create favorable conditions for periodontitis (a disease in which periodontal pockets form, pus constantly flows out of them, and the teeth themselves become mobile). And this is a direct path to loss healthy teeth. Moreover, the number of harmful bacteria increases, which causes increased dental caries.

The service life of a well-established implant will be tens of years. According to statistics, at least 90 percent of implants function perfectly 10 years after installation, while the service life is on average 40 years. What is characteristic is given period will depend both on the design of the product and on how carefully the patient cares for it. That is why during cleaning mandatory you need to use an irrigator. In addition, it is necessary to visit the dentist at least once a year. All these measures will significantly reduce the risk of implant loss.

Removal of a dental cyst can be done therapeutically or surgical method. In the second case we're talking about about tooth extraction with further gum cleaning. In addition, there are those modern methods which allow you to save the tooth. This is, first of all, a cystectomy - quite complex operation, which involves removing the cyst and the affected root tip. Another method is hemisection, in which the root and a fragment of the tooth above it are removed, after which it (the part) is restored with a crown.

As for therapeutic treatment, then it consists in cleaning out the cyst by root canal. This is also a difficult option, especially not always effective. Which method should you choose? This will be decided by the doctor together with the patient.

In the first case, professional systems based on carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide are used to change the color of teeth. Obviously, it is better to give preference to professional whitening.

The toothbrush is without a doubt one of the most necessary items hygiene that a person uses every day. Therefore, choosing a toothbrush is a responsible step, first of all, before yourself, before your health. Let us immediately note that when choosing a toothbrush, it is worth discarding marketing ploys with the help of which the buyer is secretly forced to buy a toothbrush of a particular brand. You need to pay attention to those properties of the brush that really have a positive effect on the teeth and oral cavity.

So, one of the most basic indicators is brush hardness. Typically, manufacturers make toothbrushes in five levels of hardness - super hard, hard, medium, soft and super soft. These hardness levels are marked on the packaging itself, so this information is fairly easy to find. Only super soft and super hard brushes are specific. Usually, very soft brushes are bought for children who are just beginning to master this hygienic skill and for those children who are in the process of replacing milk teeth with molars. In some cases, a very soft brush is recommended for those who have developed periodontitis or damaged enamel. Soft toothbrushes can be used by those who have frequent gum bleeding, pregnant women and people with diabetes. However, do not forget that such brushes require a certain technique for brushing your teeth. Otherwise, the bristles will quickly wrinkle, lose their elasticity, and the effect of brushing your teeth will become zero.

A brush of medium hardness can be used by those people who do not have problems with the oral cavity. Do not forget that the concept of “health” is relative, therefore, even in the absence of any unpleasant symptoms On the part of the oral cavity, you should not think that there are no problems at all. It is best to get a recommendation for using this brush from your dentist.
A stiffer brush can be used by those who are addicted to smoking, excessive coffee consumption, and increased plaque formation. However, it is worth remembering that A hard brush can damage tooth enamel, so it is recommended for use by those who have strong tooth enamel. If you use a stiff brush long time, then it can thin the enamel and make teeth not only hyper-responsive to temperature changes, but also more vulnerable to caries and other diseases.

Very hard brushes are recommended for those people who wear special orthodontic structures - braces, bridges or plates for straightening teeth. Such brushes are capable of ideally removing plaque and food debris from the places where the structure is attached to the tooth plane. Here the expected effect far exceeds those possible negative consequences that hard can give toothbrush.

Another important point– the size of the bristles of the toothbrush itself. Previously, manufacturers did not strive to diversify toothbrushes, and all bristles were made the same size. IN lately Research shows that the bristles should not be at the same level - thus, they simply do not correspond to the anatomical curves of the tooth and do not touch hard-to-reach places. Brushes with hairs appeared different lengths: As a rule, the bristles are longer at the end so that they reach the deep interdental crevices and the surface of the gums (especially the place where tartar occurs). These brushes usually grip two teeth.

Speaking about the bristles and their size, it is worth mentioning such an important point as the edges of the bristles. They are rounded, blunt or pointed. Usually a person does not really distinguish between the sensations of the edges of a brush, but for teeth cleaning this fact has great value. Thus, pointed tips better clean teeth and the spaces between them. But blunt and rounded tips are excellent massagers for gums.

The material from which the bristles are made is predominantly synthetic. If previously it was believed that brushes made from natural hair are better, now researchers have a different opinion. IN natural hair There is a structural channel within which pathological microorganisms develop after some time, so such brushes have already gone out of fashion. But synthetic materials - polyurethane, nylon, polyvinyl - do not contain such a threat. In addition, synthetic fibers let you know that the brush needs to be changed - the bristles change color.

Let's remember about electric toothbrushes, which have become widespread since 1960. A battery-powered brush differs from a regular one primarily in two main ways: the brush head is divided into two segments - movable and stationary. And the second point is the presence of a battery in the toothbrush holder, which powers the mechanism itself. By pressing the button on the handle of the brush, the owner sets one of the parts of the brush head in motion - it begins to rotate in a circle. Some brushes can have an adjustable head speed, but most brushes have one preset average speed. It is worth noting right away that such a toothbrush is a little unusual to use due to its weight - the battery at the base of the brush makes it significantly heavier compared to a regular brush, but after a while users of such a brush get used to this fact. If you handle such a brush with care, it will last for a long time, because the brushes come with replacement heads, which means you don’t need to buy an expensive brush every three months – you just need to change the head and use the brush again. As a rule, brushes from leading manufacturers have good mechanisms.

There is no need to worry about damaging your teeth with an electric brush. Using this brush is the same as using a regular brush. At the same time, the brush does not injure the oral cavity; its bristles are made of materials of different hardness (the rotating part is stiffer), which not only clean the teeth, but also effectively massage the gums. And for complete cleansing To protect a tooth from plaque, only five seconds of exposure of the moving part to the surface of the tooth is enough. Such brushes are indicated for people with gingivitis, periodontitis, and those who have removable systems. There are electric brushes and for children - their bristles are made of a special material that does not harm the enamel of children's teeth. In general, dentists note that the use of electric toothbrushes has a positive effect on oral health, but you need to choose a brush with the help of a dentist in order to be completely sure of the correctness of your actions.

Toothbrushes have undergone a great evolution - from an ordinary soaked twig from a bush to a branded dental device (even with a motor). A soft toothbrush is a popular household item, since hygiene rules have become principles modern man. When buying, they pay attention to everything - brand, design, convenience, compactness and even coolness. The main parameter that should be taken into account first is the degree of rigidity of the microbristles.

Who needs to buy a soft toothbrush?

All toothbrushes are divided into 5 degrees of hardness (and this is not due to the personal preferences of consumers). A harder tool does an excellent job of removing deposits on enamel, removes deposits well and prevents stone formation, but such a brush is not suitable for everyone.

And there are reasons for this:

• In a child under 10 years of age, the dental tissues are still imperfect, so hard fibers can cause harm .
• Mature age is also a reason to buy a soft brush. Older people have more loose gums, sometimes there is mobility of teeth and bleeding gums.
• For defects in the oral cavity, only soft villi are indicated. Otherwise, the situation can worsen.
• When increased, even medium hardness of the brush causes severe discomfort.
• A soft instrument should also be chosen by people prone to poor blood clotting, as well as diabetics.

Despite the fact that soft bristles perform their cleaning function poorly, the described categories of people will benefit more from a non-rigid brush in terms of maintaining health.

How to determine hardness by marking?

It is not necessary to determine the degree of hardness of a toothbrush by touch - for this purpose there is a corresponding marking on the package. That is why you should first pay attention to it, and only then to the design.

Marking of toothbrushes:

• sensitive – very soft bristles that delicately clean teeth; Most recommended for young children suffering from periodontal disease, with violations of the enamel layer;
• soft – soft brush; it should be chosen in all the cases described above;
• medium – average degree of hardness; Most healthy people choose these brushes;
• hard – hard bristles are necessary heavy smokers and coffee lovers, but only with strong enamel;
• extra-hard – extra-hard brushes are designed specifically for cleaning dentures and are not suitable for “living” teeth.

Having decided on the labeling of brushes and knowing your problems, it will be easier to make a purchase.

Review of the most popular models with soft bristles

There are many companies producing high-quality toothbrushes. They produce products for all occasions, so you can easily find a suitable brush for both your child and yourself, taking into account the softness of the bristles.

• ExceedfromOral– B. Polyamide bristles have different angles, which allows them to penetrate into the most inaccessible places. The brush is equipped with a special surface for cleaning the tongue and cheeks. Rubberized inserts on the handle make it comfortable to hold in your hands.
• SPLAT Professional Sensitive. The bristles on this brush are split into 4 parts and have rounded ends, this helps prevent injury to painful gums while massaging them. The fibers are impregnated with silver ions - this provides a powerful bactericidal effect. Despite the softness of the material, maximum enamel cleansing from plaque is achieved.
• LACALUT Sensitive. The softness of the bristles does not harm the gums and delicately cleanses tooth enamel. The fibers are made of nylon thread impregnated with silver ions. The roundness of the bristles helps avoid injury to the enamel and gums. This option is especially recommended for young patients and people with high sensitivity.
• Colgate 360 Sensitive Pro– Reliev. Rubber cups are placed between thin micro-bristles, thanks to which the enamel is not only cleaned, but also polished. The elongated bristles easily penetrate all surfaces for maximum removal of food debris. The tight-fitting bristles remove plaque from below the gum line and between teeth. On back side The tool has a small brush for convenient treatment of the tongue, which allows you to reduce the number of bacteria in the oral cavity and eliminate unpleasant odor.
• Jordan Target Sensitive. A distinctive feature of this option is the finest fibers up to 0.01 mm in diameter. They take up a small work surface, making cleaning easy back wall teeth, which is sometimes difficult to reach. The brush is recommended for users with sensitive teeth and gums, as well as for those who wear braces. The ergonomic handle and compactness make the tool easy to use.
• Silka Favorite. Thanks to its design, it has a multifunctional purpose. The bristles are located in two levels. External, high, cleans the gingival groove, smooth surfaces and massages the gums. The beveled internal villi work over the chewing surfaces. A special power projection helps clean hard-to-reach places and interdental spaces. All bristles are made of high quality nylon fabric. To make the brush more convenient to use, the handle has a special non-slip thumb rest.

How to make a toothbrush soft?

If you purchase a brush without paying attention to its labeling, then after brushing your teeth you may end up with bleeding gums due to the incorrectly chosen stiffness. However, in this case, it is not necessary to throw away the brush - it can actually be softened by using one of the methods described below.

Using water

To soften the bristles at home, you will need hot water (but not boiling water). You can do this in any of 3 ways:

• Hold the instrument under running water for 10 minutes hot water; if there is no running water, water the toothbrush from the spout of the kettle.
• Soak the brush in a glass of hot water for several hours.
• Leave the instrument in a thermos overnight, with the water temperature at about 40°C.

It should be taken into account that from high temperatures The synthetic bristles on your toothbrush may melt. Then it will have to be thrown away.

In hydrogen peroxide

This is the fastest and effective remedy. Place the toothbrush head in a glass and fill it with hydrogen peroxide (3 percent) so that the liquid completely covers the bristles. After waiting for 5 minutes, the instrument is removed and washed twice well under warm running water.

Aloe Vera Gel

The product used to soften the skin will also help when used with a toothbrush.

Aloe Vera is used in the same way as hydrogen peroxide.

Only in this case you need to wait at least 10 minutes for the bristles to become softer and more comfortable.

Dental rinse

They not only have antibactericidal properties. They contain components that soften the hardness of the toothbrush. Using a rinse aid, you can also restore old, dry bristles.

Fill the glass halfway with the product and lower the toothbrush into it. The exposure time depends on the material of the bristles and the degree of their hardness, but half an hour will definitely be enough.

What kind of toothbrushes are not offered in specialized departments of stores these days! But how do you choose the brush that's right for you?

Edith Kuzmina, head of the Department of Prevention, says: dental diseases MGMSU.

Let's look at the material

No matter how great the temptation to buy “natural”, the bristles of a toothbrush must be made artificial fiber.

Bacteria multiply inside each natural hair - they are made from pork bristles, so such brushes are unhygienic and can contribute to the development of diseases in the oral cavity.

In addition, the natural bristles are too soft. And their tips cannot be rounded, so their sharp edges can injure the enamel and gums.

Choosing hardness

The degree of stiffness of the bristles of a toothbrush is determined by the diameter of the fiber from which it is made - the larger the diameter, the stiffer the brush will be.

The stiffness of the toothbrush must be indicated on the packaging. It can be very soft (ultrasoft, extrasoft), soft (soft), medium (medium), hard and very hard (hard).

Very soft A toothbrush is needed for children under 5 years of age and people with hypersensitivity teeth. Soft brush - for children from 5 to 12 years old, as well as for severe bleeding, swelling, sore gums, and abrasion of hard dental tissues. Toothbrush medium hard- children over 12 years old and adults.

Hard And very tough Toothbrushes should not be used without a doctor’s recommendation, as they can injure the gums and cause abrasion of the hard tissues of the teeth, and their bristles are not flexible enough to penetrate well into the interdental spaces and under the gum.

Choosing a size

These toothbrushes are easy to manipulate in the mouth and clean hard-to-reach tooth surfaces.

How long do toothbrushes last?

Your toothbrush needs to be changed regularly, because even artificial bristles harbor bacteria.

Brushes with medium hardness can be used for 3 months, while those with soft bristles should be replaced after 1-2 months.

Electric toothbrush

Advantages

Cleans teeth well– According to the results of most studies, electric toothbrushes are better than regular ones at removing plaque, including in hard-to-reach areas.

Cleans teeth easily– the brush moves along the teeth, lingering on each tooth for several seconds; no further movements need to be made.

Required less time for brushing your teeth - when brushing with an electric toothbrush, two minutes is enough, and with an ordinary toothbrush you need to brush for at least three.

Easy to control brushing time - most electric toothbrush models have a two-minute timer.

Easier to clean teeth – thanks to the pulse and vibration mode, less effort is required to remove plaque.

There are also children's Electric toothbrushes make it easier for kids to brush their teeth

Flaws

There is a possibility of abrasion of hard dental tissues and gum injuries. Therefore, an electric toothbrush should be used 2-3 times a week.

Ultrasonic toothbrush

Advantages

Removes plaque well, including in hard-to-reach places under the gum.

You can brush your teeth without additional pressure onto the brush, which makes brushing your teeth easier and reduces the likelihood of injury.

Can be used for diseases of the oral cavity when the impact of a regular or electric toothbrush is painful or dangerous. And also when using implants or braces, if the force of mechanical impact on them needs to be limited.

Contraindications

Cannot be used by people with diseases, blood diseases, precancerous diseases of the oral cavity, epilepsy. Exposure to ultrasound can provoke an exacerbation of these diseases.

The main thing about toothbrushes

Choose a brush with artificial bristles, soft or medium hardness and a small head. The lifespan of the brush is short - up to three months. Electric and ultrasonic brushes make brushing your teeth easier, but they must be used with caution.

It's easy to get confused among the modern range of toothbrushes. In most cases, a toothbrush is selected based on the principle: a pleasant color, suitable price and the manufacturing company often appears in advertising. No more than five minutes are allotted for choosing a toothbrush. But choosing the wrong toothbrush can cause harm. oral health . So what should you pay attention to when choosing a brush?

Hardness degree

There are four levels of toothbrush hardness - hard, medium, soft and very soft. Typically, the degree of hardness is marked on the packaging: for example, “sensitive” means a very soft toothbrush, “soft” means soft, “medium” means medium, “hard” means hard, “extra-hard” means special toothbrushes that are designed for people with increased plaque formation, or those with orthopedic or orthodontic structures. These parameters are very important, but often, unfortunately, they remain without due attention.

Very soft toothbrushes indicated for children and adults with diseases of the gums and hard dental tissues. Such diseases include periodontitis with tooth mobility of I and II degrees, non-carious lesions of the enamel, when the enamel is not fully developed or is completely absent. Only a dentist can recommend using a very soft toothbrush.

Soft toothbrush indicated for bleeding gums, pregnant and lactating women, people with diabetes mellitus. It is unacceptable to use a soft toothbrush in combination with careless and improper brushing of teeth. If your gums are bleeding, you must use a certain method of brushing your teeth, often using specialized toothbrushes.

Toothbrush medium degree rigidity most popular and used by most of the adult population. You should use this toothbrush if you have a relatively healthy oral cavity.

Hard toothbrush recommended to use smokers , for coffee lovers and people with increased formation of dental plaque of any etiology. Dentists advise using this type of brush for people with healthy cavity mouth and strong tooth enamel.

Super hard toothbrushes- this is a type of specialized brushes that is most often used when cleaning full removable dentures, in the presence of fixed bridges and braces in the oral cavity.

Important little things

When choosing, you need to pay attention to the length of the working part; ideally, it should simultaneously capture a segment of teeth (2-2.5 teeth), it is thanks to this condition that the best cleaning effect of the chewing group of teeth is achieved.

The working part of the toothbrush, or the head, should be round in shape - this way there is less risk of injuring the delicate oral mucosa. The back of the head should be made of soft material, ideally with rough surface. Thanks to this, microorganisms are cleaned not only from the teeth and interdental spaces, but also from the oral mucosa.

The junction of the head and handle of the toothbrush should be movable. Thanks to the springing effect, the pressure on the area of ​​hard and soft tissues in the oral cavity is regulated and the risk of injury is reduced. For convenience, the handle should be thick and with rubberized inserts - so it will not slip in your hand when brushing your teeth.

Bristle

There are brushes with natural and artificial bristles. On at the moment It has been scientifically proven that using toothbrushes with natural bristles is harmful, as they absorb water and create excellent conditions for the development of pathogenic microorganisms. Dentists recommend using toothbrushes exclusively with artificial bristles.

All bristles are processed accordingly, the tips are rounded and are not capable of causing microtrauma to the enamel and mucous membrane of the teeth. The main material used to produce bristles is nylon. All bristles are collected in tufts, and the tufts are distributed over the working surface. According to the location of these bristles and their length, they are distinguished:

• single-level,
• two-level,
• three-level,
• multi-level toothbrushes. The tufts of bristles can be positioned either strictly parallel to each other or at a certain angle, thanks to which a certain pattern is visible on the working surface of the brush.

Hygienic toothbrushes

If you consider a hygienic toothbrush, then all the bristles are located at the same level and strictly parallel to each other. Recently, such toothbrushes are rarely used due to their low cleaning ability. The only place where such brushes can be used is for the hygienic treatment of orthopedic structures.

Therapeutic and prophylactic toothbrushes

How to choose the right toothbrush? /shutterstock.com

The bristles of such brushes are located on different levels, often tufts in such toothbrushes of varying hardness. Usually they combine hard straight tufts, which perfectly clean the interdental spaces, while stiffer short tufts perfectly remove plaque and food debris from the chewing surface. chewing teeth, soft and oblique bristles clean the cervical area of ​​​​the teeth and massage the gums when brushing.

In addition, such brushes also have special additional devices in the form of silicone inserts, a silicone protrusion at the end of the working part of the head or a ribbed surface back side working head. All these elements are designed for additional surface polishing teeth and massaging the gums or brushing the tongue. As you know, more than 60% of pathogens develop on the tongue.

It is better to purchase a therapeutic and prophylactic brush for people with weak gums who need an excellent cleaning effect and additional stimulation of the gums.

Special toothbrushes

Special brushes include monotuft toothbrushes, which are used for special methods cleaning teeth - for example, in case of gum disease, to care for braces, orthopedic structures or implants.

Additional accessories

The modern toothbrush market offers a number of devices that make it easier to care for and use the toothbrush for its intended purpose. The bristles of some brushes are impregnated special solution, which disappears during use and directly indicates when you need to change your toothbrush. General recommendation doctors - change your toothbrush after 2-3 months of use.

Electric brushes

Initially, electric toothbrushes were invented for people with disabilities, and later migrated to the general public.

Modern electric brushes are battery-powered, compact and have several removable working heads, which are sold as a set. More expensive models run on a battery that can be charged as needed.

To make brushing your teeth easier, electric toothbrushes are equipped with a pressure sensor, which protects teeth and gums from microtrauma, and a timer, which notifies you when brushing is complete.

The availability of cleaning modes depends on the price, usually there are two. But, as practice shows, in most cases only one optimal teeth cleaning regimen is used.

The disadvantage of an electric toothbrush is its bristles; they are almost always of medium hardness, and it is very difficult to find heads with soft bristles, which are necessary for people with problem gums. In addition, dentists do not recommend using electric toothbrushes for people with problem gums.

How often do you change your toothbrush?

Alena PARETSKAYA