Toothbrush 101

We at ElDorado Dental, one of the absolute best in Sante Fe, want to help you with your daily tooth brushing routine. This can seem like a no-brainer, but you might have forgotten some important dental hygiene steps. And brushing your teeth adequately and consistently can make a huge difference in not only your dental health – but your all-over health as well.  Let’s dig into toothbrush 101.

Common mistakes and questions:

• “My toothbrush is 6 months old, how old is too old?”
• “Hard bristle brushes get teeth cleaner.”
• “Which kind of toothbrush is best?”

Seal of Acceptance

Electric and manual toothbrushes are both very effective at removing plaque. You can choose whichever you like best. Electric toothbrushes can be easier to handle and use, especially for young kids, elderly, and people with braces, but are not deemed better than manual. Just see if you can find an ADA Seal of Acceptance and you are good to go. And that ADA Seal of Acceptance is exactly as it says: American Dental Association accepted, meaning a panel of dentists say this is good, and you really can trust that when choosing your toothbrush.

Recommendations

Your toothbrush should be changed every three to four months. You can always change more often, but try not to go longer than four months. You can probably tell if you need a new one just by looking at the frayed bristles. Once a toothbrush is worn out it no longer can get your teeth as clean as they should be. Another reason to change your brush would be if you get sick; toothpaste does not actually kill bacteria. And little known fact: you could get someone else’s toothbrush infected with your sickness if theirs is next to yours.

ADA recommends, for the vast majority of people, using only soft-bristled toothbrushes. Medium or firm bristles can damage your gums, root surface, and your tooth enamel. There will not be an ADA Seal of Acceptance on most medium or firm-bristled toothbrushes. So resist the urge to believe brushing harder means cleaner teeth, your gums and roots are just as important to protect and a soft-bristle brush will get all the parts of your mouth clean.

When you brush your teeth, it’s important to get the inner surfaces, outer surfaces, and top surfaces. ADA recommends twice daily for two minutes each time. If you’re used to only brushing once daily this might seem tedious; however, you will be doing your teeth and gums such a huge favor! Switching to twice a day can greatly reduce plaque, whiten your beautiful (or handsome) smile, lower your risk of gum disease AND lessen tooth decay. Only brushing once a day causes the plaque and germs to build up in your mouth, which also can cause bad breath. Brush your white ivories twice a day for two minutes…don’t forget!

Being the top dentist in Santa Fe, we strive to make sure you understand how important tooth care is and how simple practices about brushing your teeth can make a great smile even greater. Here at ElDorado Dental we want to make sure your smile is as healthy, clean, and sparkly as possible. Make an appointment today and see our dental care experts here in Santa Fe.