Choosing the right toothbrush means effectively protecting enamel and gums from damage and disease with proper brushing.
Short story
Since ancient times, people have observed oral hygiene, understanding the importance of dental health. In Babylon, chewing sticks were used, the Egyptians made toothbrushes from a special kind of wood. In ancient Rome, dental hygiene was an integral part of religious rituals, during which slaves cared for citizens of noble classes.
China is considered the birthplace of the toothbrush, the time of invention is the last years of the 15th century. Then the brush was a handle made of bamboo or bone, on which elastic bristles were attached from the middle part of the boar's neck. Badger or horse hair served as an alternative. It is known that in the 16th century in Russia there were toothbrushes in the form of sticks with a bundle of bristles.
Only in the 18th century did brushes begin to roughly resemble their modern counterparts. In the thirties of the last century, with the invention of nylon by American chemists, a new toothbrush with artificial bristles appeared, which has significant advantages over natural ones. In the same period of time, the first electric toothbrush appears in Switzerland.
Types and forms
There are different types of toothbrushes on the market:
- mechanical with different levels and directions of bristles;
- electrical (including ultrasonic as a variety);
- ionic;
- special.
In addition, there is a classification according to the type of bristle, its degree of rigidity, as well as the size and shape of the brush head. Each species has many models, the total number of which over the past 50-odd years has amounted to more than three thousand.
Mechanical
An ordinary popular brush for brushing teeth by hand is currently distinguished by many modifications that differ from each other:
- the shape of the handle (narrow, flat, round, springy, combining two or more shapes, a combination of two materials);
- handle length (large, medium, small, teenage, children's);
- type of grip (convex, concave, corrugated, circular, mixed, without grip, and many others);
- on the placement of beams (at one or more levels);
- by type of bristle processing (rounded, polished, threaded, several types in combination);
- additional devices (with a pad on the opposite side of the head for cleaning and massaging the tongue, rubber inserts for polishing the teeth and massaging the gums, a color indicator for signaling the replacement of the brush with a new one).
Electrical
Brushes powered by batteries or accumulators are divided into:
- classic with a rotating head;
- ultrasonic;
- sound.
In addition to the principle of operation, electric toothbrushes are divided into models with bristles of varying degrees of hardness. During use, the cleaning head is driven by electricity. On the built-in timer, the time is selected, which for high-quality one-time cleaning is no more than two minutes.
Ultrasonic brushes have a double motor that generates ultrasound to effectively and safely break the bond between plaque and enamel. An electric sonic brush works on a similar principle with a difference in the frequency range produced: 1.6-1.7 MHz for ultrasonic models, 30 kHz for sonic ones.
Ionic
Such a brush is a special handle with a titanium dioxide-coated rod and a working part with bristles. When used, the metal sends electrons to connect with hydrogen ions living in plaque. As a result, microbes are destroyed along with plaque, and a useful oxygen environment is created in the oral cavity. The brush works great without toothpaste or with a minimum amount of it.
Special
It is recommended to use in the presence of braces, implants. On the bristles of special toothbrushes there is a cut-out corner to get into the most inaccessible places of orthodontic constructions.
Brush care
For effective cleaning of the teeth, the brush must be kept clean by washing the bristles regularly with soapy water and rinsing it off under running water. After each hygiene procedure, it is imperative to rinse the brush from the remnants of the paste and put it in a glass with the head up. To prevent microbes from moving from one brush to another, dentists advise each family member to have an individual cup for storing brushes. There is another option: a brush stand with several holes located at some distance from each other.
It is impossible to keep the brush in a closed case, since a favorable environment for bacteria is created and it is not possible to dry the working part well, from which the effectiveness of the bristles is significantly reduced.
No matter how neat the brush is, it should be changed once every three months. If a person has had a viral disease of the oral cavity, then the brush should be replaced immediately after recovery.
When the bristles are deformed (no matter how much time has passed: one, two months), then the brush should definitely be thrown away.
On sale there are models with a colored indicator coating on the bristles, which tells the expiration of the service life by changing the color. It is most reliable to buy brushes in pharmacies, at other points of sale there is a risk of purchasing goods of dubious quality.
Prices
The cost of toothbrushes in pharmacy online stores is:
- 50-1000 rubles (regular and special);
- 100-1000 rubles (ionic);
- 1000-5000 rubles (electric);
- 2500-6000 rubles (ultrasonic and sound).
Prices of brushes in pharmacies may be slightly higher.
Basic selection rules
In order for a toothbrush to perform its functions effectively, the following features must be considered when buying:
- a small head penetrates into hard-to-reach places;
- bristles located crosswise quickly eliminate plaque;
- the working part made of artificial bristles does not accumulate bacteria on its surface and is more reliable than natural;
- the common degree of rigidity is medium; for gum disease and very thin enamel, dentists recommend soft bristles;
- the long handle provides gentle pressure when cleaning, which is important for maintaining healthy gums and enamel;
- flexible connection of the head and handle allows you to increase the cleansing and massage effects;
- rubber inserts on the handle securely fix it in your hand;
- the soft and rough back side of the head is convenient for cleansing the mucous membrane and tongue;
- an electric brush is categorically not suitable after operations in the oral cavity of an oncological nature and on the tissues surrounding the tooth;
- when choosing an ultrasonic brush, you need to remember that it is contraindicated in case of filled teeth, cardiovascular diseases, pre-oncological diseases of the oral cavity, epilepsy, problems with blood composition;
- a high-quality brush contains information about itself on the packaging (manufacturer, postal address, sign of mandatory certification by Rostest).
A competent choice of a toothbrush, according to experts, is more important than the most effective toothpaste. By following the advice of your dentist, you can easily maintain the good health of your teeth.
