How to prepare your toothbrush for use. How to choose the best toothbrush? The best mechanical toothbrushes

I was looking for a new brush. And I noticed that there are new generation toothbrushes - these are ultra thin brushes. And chose the ultra thin toothbrush from Oral-B Green Tea. I liked its color and very thin bristles.

And also it is made of transparent plastic. And green color, and plastic and bristles - all impressed me. And I decided to take this particular brush. The manufacturer's line also includes Black tea. But I was afraid of such black tea and decided to try Green tea first.

This is what the brush looks like from different angles.

From the first minute I realized that this brush is above all my expectations. I realized this by simply running a dry, clean, new brush and without any means over my teeth. Words can not describe, but it actually cleans the interdental spaces.

The brush is soft. There is no discomfort for the gums. Everything is very delicate.

After a month of use, the color of the bristles began to change, which upset me a little. It's probably the green tea extract that started to wash out.

I really like the material of the brush itself. Very high quality plastic, durable, odorless and it already rings in the hands.

Most of us use ordinary manual or, as they are also called, manual toothbrushes. But manufacturers of oral care products offer several alternatives, including an ionic toothbrush. And if many have already heard about electrical and even ultrasonic devices, then the ionic brush is not yet so popular. What it is, what is the principle of its operation and whether the new technology is really effective, you will learn from the article.

Ionic brush: working principle

Externally, the ion brush resembles a traditional manual brush with some design differences:

• inside the brush nozzle, near the bristles, there is a titanium rod, which, in the presence of a power source (battery or solar battery), produces ions with a negative charge;
• on the handle of the brush in the area where your thumb is usually located during the cleaning process, there is a metal plate, the release of ions will occur if it is moistened;
• a light bulb is located at the end of the handle - this is an indicator of the battery charge, if it glows, it means that ions are being released.

The principle of operation of the hygienic device is as follows: negatively charged ions enter the saliva during brushing and contribute to a more effective removal of plaque.

Ionic brush handle.

According to the manufacturers of ionic brushes, this effect is achieved due to the fact that the ionic brush changes the charge on the enamel. Human tooth enamel has a negative charge, and the bacterial plaque that forms on it is positive. Since opposite charges tend to attract, plaque adheres to the surface of the enamel and is firmly held on it. During brushing with an ionic toothbrush, the charge on the enamel becomes positive, and the plaques of plaque are repelled from it, as their charge becomes the same. Negatively charged toothbrush bristles attract positively charged plaque. This ensures better cleaning of the teeth and removal of bacterial deposits even from hard-to-reach places - tooth gaps, surfaces of distant molars.

We owe the appearance of ionic toothbrushes on the market to Japanese specialists, it was in Japan that this technology was invented.

Is ion technology effective?

The principle of operation of the brush is criticized by dentists.

Ionic technology was skeptical of both consumers and dentists. The principle of operation based on changing the polarity of the teeth was perceived by many with irony. There is no reliable evidence that plaque is attracted to enamel by creating an electrostatic or electromagnetic bond between them. It is known that the attachment of dental plaque to the enamel occurs due to enzymes that produce soft plaque bacteria. By simply bringing the bristles that emit ions to the enamel, plaque will not begin to peel off from it and be attracted to the brush. Its removal is possible only with mechanical action - cleaning.

Reviews of dentists regarding the ionic toothbrush are of a different nature. But the main message is this: it's not how fancy your brush is that matters, but how you use it. In order for all bacterial plaque to be removed during brushing, the bristles must make the correct “sweeping” movements from the gum line to the cutting edge of the tooth. Even if negative ions do come from the bristles, they can only make it easier to remove plaque, but the quality of cleaning depends on your efforts.

Manufacturers of ionic brushes claim that in the process of brushing the teeth, the normalization of the acid balance in the oral cavity occurs faster. In addition, the ions released from the bristles contribute to a faster penetration of the active components of the toothpaste into the tissues of the teeth. That is, the positive effect of cleaning will be achieved faster than when using a conventional brush, which is especially important for people who devote less than 3 minutes to the hygiene procedure recommended by dentists.

In the descriptions of ionic brushes compiled by product manufacturers, it is indicated that brushing your teeth has the following effect:

• removes bacterial plaque;
• improves gum health;
• eliminates ;
• reduces the sensitivity of enamel;
• leads to the normalization of the pH of the oral cavity.

However, in fairness, it is worth saying that a regular brush also has all these effects, if you use it in a duet with a good toothpaste and clean it using the right technology.

The nozzle needs to be changed to a new one every 3 months.

Features of using ionic brushes

You need to brush your teeth with an ionic brush in the same way as a regular manual one, with the exception of some points:

• before starting the procedure, the metal plate on the brush handle must be moistened with water, this activates the process of producing ions;
• during the hygiene procedure, it is recommended to hold a wet finger on a metal panel so that the ion production process does not stop;
• moisten the bristle, squeeze a pea of ​​paste onto it;
• brush your teeth for about 3 minutes, brushing from the gum to the edge of the tooth;
• then proceed to cleaning the chewing surface;
• rinse your mouth with water, rinse the bristles from the remnants of the paste;
• store the brush in an upright position with the head up.

Important: according to the manufacturers, “dry” cleaning without paste will also be effective. In principle, plaque can also be removed with a dry bristle of a conventional brush, without ion technology. But the paste helps to mineralize the enamel, strengthen it and protect the teeth from. In addition, after wetting the bristles and applying paste to it, cleaning is softer, without damaging the enamel.

Like a manual brush, the bristles of an ionic brush wear out and become colonized with bacteria. For effective and safe brushing, brush heads should be changed every 3 months.

There are more ways to disinfect your toothbrush than you might think.

Toothbrush disinfection is something we often ignore or underestimate. But if you see a petri dish in which germs from your toothbrush have been placed, the next time you will be afraid to brush your teeth without sanitizing your toothbrush.

Toothbrush- this is one of those things that you use every day, and which requires disinfection. It needs to be disinfected, as it cleans all bacteria and germs from your teeth and oral tissues, and ordinary water is ineffective in eliminating them. Running water does not disinfect the bristles of a toothbrush. In fact, it is said that rinsing the toothbrush with water gives the same effect as not cleaning at all.

Methods for disinfecting a toothbrush

Antiseptic Mouthwash: Immerse your toothbrush in an antiseptic mouthwash for about 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove the toothbrush from the rinse aid, rinse with normal or hot water and let dry. Do not place your toothbrush in the case until it has dried. Antiseptic mouthwashes help kill bacteria and germs and disinfect your toothbrush.

Microwave: Place your toothbrush in the microwave for about 15 seconds. It is established that the radiation emitted by a microwave oven destroys bacteria and germs on a toothbrush.

Dishwashing utensils: Tests have shown that disinfecting your toothbrush in the dishwasher provides the most effective germ-killing results compared to rinsing with hot water and high-pressure water.

Boiling: Another effective way to disinfect a toothbrush is the traditional boiling in a container of water. Boil the brush for about 15 minutes and then let it dry. The only downside to this method is that the bristles of your toothbrush will wear out faster than normal when using it. In addition, this method is not suitable for disinfecting an electric toothbrush.

Toothbrush sanitizer: There are many different toothbrush sanitizers available on the market. They come in the form of a toothbrush case, a toothbrush holder, and a small sterilization capsule that you can place and leave the toothbrush head in.

UV sterilizing lamp: You can also disinfect your toothbrush using an ultraviolet sterilizer. When using a UV sterilizer, you must turn the toothbrush over and place it in the sterilizer. The cover of this device is transparent, and the light emitted by it allows you to know whether it is working or not. Sterilization continues for about 10 minutes, after which the device switches off automatically.

Steam and dry heat: There are other electronic sanitizers that disinfect the toothbrush using steam and dry heat.

Hydrogen peroxide solution (H 2 0 2): It is possible to disinfect a toothbrush by storing it in a hydrogen peroxide solution and changing the solution daily, although this is not a very convenient method.

White Vinegar: Pour some white vinegar into a container and place your upside down toothbrush in it overnight. This procedure allows you to disinfect the toothbrush, however, this is not a 100% effective method.

Some tips for keeping your toothbrush clean

• Do not store all your toothbrushes in one toothbrush cup, as bacteria can easily transfer from one brush to another.
• Throw away the brush if the bristles begin to bend.
• Throw away the toothbrush of a person who has had any illness immediately to eliminate any possibility of bacteria from it transferring to other people's brushes.
• Change your toothbrush every 2-3 months.

It is very important to keep your toothbrush as clean as possible, as a bacteria-contaminated brush leads to more germs, which in turn contributes to the development of many diseases and problems, such as heart disease, bad breath, inflammation, and cavities. So disinfect your toothbrush and be proud of your beautiful smile!

Video

“You need to take care of your teeth from early childhood, in this case, children grow up healthy, cheerful, beautiful and get more chances in life”

George Eastman

Very often, such an everyday action as brushing your teeth raises many different questions and disagreements. If you take care of your teeth incorrectly, then by looking at their parents and imitating them, children learn to brush their teeth incorrectly. It will be hard enough to change.

This article won't do away with "dirty teeth" and cavities, but if I can answer some questions about oral hygiene and dispel a few of the most common myths about brushing my teeth, I'll be done.

The very first, biggest and most terrible myth: “You don’t need to brush milk teeth!”.

It is necessary, and how it is necessary!!! Firstly, milk teeth are not immune from caries, and the best way to prevent it is an ideal individual oral hygiene, that is, a good and proper brushing of teeth. And secondly, without teaching and accustoming a child to brush his teeth from the cradle, then it is much more difficult to do this. By conscious age, a child should perceive brushing his teeth as naturally as eating. And remember that the child imitates his parents in everything, so you should become an example for the child even in such hard work as brushing your teeth.

You need to start caring for your teeth as soon as the object of courtship appears. The first erupted teeth are recommended to be cleaned with a silicone brush, which is worn on the finger of an adult. And from 8-10 months you can already use the smallest children's toothbrush. For children, special brushes with a thick handle have been developed (to make it more convenient to hold in a fist), they are bright and encourage the child to play, because it is in the game that friendship is born! There are brushes with a rattle in the handle that rattles only if you brush your teeth properly.

Myth 2: “It doesn’t matter how you brush your teeth, the main thing is to brush”

You need to brush your teeth properly. You can spend 5 minutes brushing your teeth and they will still be dirty. Why is it so? Because the remnants of food stick very strongly to the teeth, and in order to get rid of them, you need to make some effort. You need to brush your teeth as if you were sweeping them. You clean the upper teeth with sweeping movements from top to bottom (so that the dirt does not clog under the gum, but is swept out), and the lower ones - from the bottom up. Be sure not to forget about the inner surface of the teeth, which is more difficult to clean than the outer. At the end of the cleaning, you need to clean the chewing surface of all teeth. And be sure to clean the side surfaces of the teeth, for these purposes there are special dental floss floss.

Myth 3: "Any toothpaste will work for a child."

Firstly, there are many adult medical (with a high content of fluoride, whitening, for the treatment of periodontitis, etc.) pastes that are categorically not suitable for children, and secondly, children's pastes are less abrasive and contain less fluorine, therefore, the child needs his own children's toothpaste. They are specially designed for milk and recently erupted permanent teeth, the enamel of which has not yet fully “ripened”. And it is made with the expectation that the child swallows part of the paste. In this regard, children are recommended children's, low-grade, first gel, and then ordinary children's toothpastes.

Myth 4: "Children will brush their teeth even if their parents don't."

If before the birth of the child you yourself brushed your teeth as and when necessary, then you must definitely learn how to properly brush your teeth with your child. Brushing your teeth should become a real ceremony, akin to a “traditional family dinner”, which cannot be skipped or changed, you can only add participants. After all, children imitate their parents in everything, so be a good example for your baby: brush your teeth with him at least 2 times a day after breakfast and before bedtime. And according to the golden rule, brush your teeth after every meal.

Myth 5: “Teeth cleaning can be completely entrusted to a child”

A small person must brush his own teeth with a brush, but then the caring hands of the parents must complete everything that the child himself cannot do yet. Gradually, children learn to perform all movements correctly, and this process cannot be rushed so that it is not difficult for the child, and so as not to instill a dislike for brushing his teeth. Until the age of 7, dentists recommend the active participation of parents in brushing their teeth, and after 7 years, passive participation. Even for teenagers, I would strongly recommend keeping an eye on when and how they brush their teeth.

Myth 6: "Children's toothbrushes should be made from natural bristles."

Natural bristles accumulate a large number of microorganisms that cannot be removed by simply rinsing the brush under running water. In addition, it is impossible to process the bristles so that it does not injure the gums (artificial bristles are rounded). With the development of modern technology, the use of natural bristle brushes is a thing of the past. Now dentists recommend that both adults and children use toothbrushes with artificial bristles.

Myth 7: “The bigger the brush, the better it cleans your teeth.”

3 A large brush can not fit everywhere, not to mention the fact that it is difficult to even move it. All surfaces of all teeth are accessible to a small brush. Adults are also recommended brushes with small heads that correspond to the size of 1.5-2 teeth.

Myth 8: “Children can brush their teeth with electric toothbrushes”

Do not forget that the enamel of children's teeth is not yet hard enough and the harsh impact of an electric toothbrush can damage immature tooth enamel. If you buy an electric brush for your child, then the joy of the child will not be the limit. If brushing your teeth is not taken for granted by a child, then an electric brush will not be able to correct the situation. The joy will pass, the new electric brush will be next to the ordinary one, and they will be bored together. This is the first. Second, you can teach how to brush your teeth with a regular brush only in childhood, then it will be useless. For some reason, we teach our children to draw with a pencil, although you can immediately learn to draw and print on a computer. Thirdly, brushing your teeth with an ordinary brush develops manual skills in a child, and as you know, a child's mind is at his fingertips. Thus, brushing your teeth with an ordinary brush will be an additional gymnastics for the mind. There are special nozzles for children on electric toothbrushes, but children should not brush their teeth with them until they are 8-12 years old.

Never!!! Chewing gum is an additional means of oral hygiene. It can be used if there is absolutely no way to brush your teeth. You can chew it only after eating (but not instead of ...) for 5-10 minutes. With longer chewing, all the beneficial effects of chewing gum end, and harmful ones begin. But this is a topic for a separate article.

Myth 10: “Fluoride rinses replace brushing your teeth.”

Toothbrushing is mostly the mechanical removal of plaque and food debris. That is why a toothbrush and, accordingly, brushing your teeth cannot be replaced by anything. Rinses are only additional oral hygiene products that are used after brushing your teeth. Children younger than 6-7 years old cannot use rinses, because they have a high content of fluorine, and they taste quite pleasant, therefore, it will not be possible to avoid excess fluoride in the child's body. Excess fluoride is harmful not only to the teeth, but most importantly, to the bones of the child. Thus, the use of personal hygiene products by a child, including toothpaste containing fluoride, should be discussed with a pediatric dentist and always monitored very carefully.

Myth 11: “Brushes should be boiled over before the first use”

Myth 12: “There should be a lot of pasta”

It must be remembered that teeth are cleaned not by paste, but by a brush. Due to antimicrobial, deodorizing and other additives, the paste helps to clean, refresh the oral cavity, and make brushing your teeth more enjoyable. If you take a lot of toothpaste, then it will foam a lot and interfere with whether we brush our teeth correctly. Yes, and the active substances contained in the paste will be too much. The required volume of toothpaste should not exceed the size of a large pea, and for children - a small one.

1. We start brushing our teeth as soon as they appear. First, we use a silicone brush that fits on an adult's finger, from 10 months we buy a special children's toothbrush.

2. We brush our teeth after every meal, always in the morning after breakfast and in the evening before going to bed.

3. We brush our teeth with our baby, so you can control him and show that you yourself are doing the right thing.

4. Do not forget to change the brush at least 1 time in 3 months. There should be a new brush for every season.

Beautiful and happy children's smiles to you!

Disinfecting your toothbrush will provide an additional layer of protection against oral infection and the spread of infectious diseases. Keeping your toothbrush clean is also a good idea in case other people might use it, although this should be avoided.

Steps

Toothbrush disinfection

Rinse your toothbrush in hot running water before and after brushing your teeth. Take the brush by the handle, holding it with your thumb. Run the bristles under hot water. Do this before and after every brushing.

Dry your toothbrush well. When you're done brushing, brush off any remaining moisture from the bristles. Tap the brush handle on a hard surface, such as a sink, to shake the water out of the bristles. To dislodge more moisture, lower the brush with the bristles down. Let the brush dry completely without letting the bristles come into contact with anything.

• If the bristles touch another surface, you should re-rinse them under hot water and dry them again.

1. Rinse the brush in an antibacterial solution. Use an alcohol based solution. Pour enough solution to completely cover the toothbrush head and bristles. Take a brush and dip the bristles into the solution. Rinse the brush in the solution for 30 seconds. Pull out the brush, tap it on a hard surface (such as a sink) to shake out any moisture, and then leave it to dry in an upright position without letting the bristles touch anything. Throw away the cup.

   • In no case do not dip the brush into a bottle of solution, otherwise you risk not only contaminating the entire bottle, but also the brush itself.
   • If you are sick, increase the soaking period to 10 minutes.

2. Hold the brush under UV light. Many disinfectants use ultraviolet (UV) light to fight bacteria on toothbrush bristles. Most of these devices work on a similar principle. Open the cover on the device. Insert your toothbrush or toothbrush head (for electric brushes) into the inner compartment. Close the lid. Turn on the device and let the UV light clean the bristles for the prescribed amount of time, which is usually no more than a couple of minutes. Pull out the brush when the device indicates the end of work.

   • Some disinfectants use steam or sound waves instead of UV. The method of their application is basically the same, but the duration of cleaning may be different.

3. Change your brush every 3-4 months or as needed. Sometimes it's best to get a new toothbrush. The Russian Dental Association recommends changing your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Even so, a close inspection of the bristles will tell you if you should replace the brush early. The individual bristles must not be heavily worn (split ends). In addition, if a lot of bristles are bent in the same direction and even drying does not help to return them to an upright position, it means that it's time to buy a new brush.

   Store your brush upright. Thus, you will kill two birds with one stone. First, water and any other liquids will flow out of the bristles under the force of gravity. And secondly, the bristles will not be at the bottom of the container, where bacteria collect. The container should be short enough so that the head of the toothbrush is well above the rim, and the brush itself does not tip over.

   • Whatever you use - a cup or a special rack to absorb possible drips - place paper towels under the toothbrush storage. In this way, you will be able to get rid of infected fluids without allowing them to come into contact with other surfaces.

4. Move the container away from other surfaces. The bristles on your toothbrush should not come into contact with sources of dirt such as a toilet, wall, or cabinet. Keep containers 1-2 meters from the toilet so that water particles do not fall on them during flushing.

   Install the wall mounted toothbrush holder. Place the brush in a holder that can be attached to the wall. Purchase a mounting stand and holder from a hardware store. Using a screwdriver, secure the rack to the wall above the sink, and at least 1-2 meters from the toilet, shower and/or bath. Place the toothbrush holder on the stand by inserting it vertically.

   • The holder usually has enough space for several brushes. Make sure the brushes do not touch each other. In addition, there is usually a holder in the center for storing supplies such as toothpaste. The bristles of the toothbrush should also not touch these objects.

5. When traveling, keep your toothbrush in the case. If you are going on a trip, do not forget to put your toothbrush in a case. The choice of toothbrush covers is quite extensive, some of them even have antimicrobial properties. If there is such an opportunity, stop your choice on them. Whatever you choose, know that the principle of operation of covers is almost the same - they hide the brush head in a special pocket, after which they close or snap into place at the top (not the one where the handle is located). Take out your brush as soon as you reach your destination to clean it and let it dry before use.

• Change your toothbrush about once every 3-4 months.
• Do not store your toothbrush in a closed container for a long period of time.
• Store your toothbrush upright.
• Deep toothbrush disinfection is generally not worth doing more than once a week.
• A few drops of a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution on the bristles will effectively and safely clean them. Hydrogen peroxide is found in both toothpaste and mouthwash. This is a fairly short and cheap method that can be performed after each brushing of the teeth. H 2 O 2 is sold in most pharmacies.