Changing toothbrushes, whether it is the head of an electric Sonicare brush or a manual toothbrush, is vitally important. The effectiveness of the brush is directly dependent upon the firmness of the bristles. As the bristles become softer, frayed, and bent, they are unable to penetrate between the teeth or under the gumline.
As a rule, we change the heads of the sonicare brushes every three months and discard our manual brushes every month. If you rigorously brush with a manual brush twice a day, the bristles should begin to deteriorate in about one month. Irrespective of which brush you use, even though I have found that the sonicare is more effective than a manual brush, it is essential that the focus of tooth cleaning and plaque removal be directed at the gumline and between the teeth. These are the areas where the bacteria accumulate first.
Almost all periodontal disease and dental decay begins between the teeth and at the gumline. Brushing alone, no matter how effective, can only remove 80-90% of the bacteria that accumulate. Additional devices such as floss, toothpicks, where accessible, and a water irrigator are necessary. These devices, when used in conjunction with careful brushing, can remove up to 90-95% of the bacteria rendering the mouth healthy enough to be maintained for a long period of time.
If you are not comfortable or clear on how to use the different devices, please share the information with our staff. We will be more than happy to help you master this vital technique.
As a rule, we change the heads of the sonicare brushes every three months and discard our manual brushes every month. If you rigorously brush with a manual brush twice a day, the bristles should begin to deteriorate in about one month. Irrespective of which brush you use, even though I have found that the sonicare is more effective than a manual brush, it is essential that the focus of tooth cleaning and plaque removal be directed at the gumline and between the teeth. These are the areas where the bacteria accumulate first.
Almost all periodontal disease and dental decay begins between the teeth and at the gumline. Brushing alone, no matter how effective, can only remove 80-90% of the bacteria that accumulate. Additional devices such as floss, toothpicks, where accessible, and a water irrigator are necessary. These devices, when used in conjunction with careful brushing, can remove up to 90-95% of the bacteria rendering the mouth healthy enough to be maintained for a long period of time.
If you are not comfortable or clear on how to use the different devices, please share the information with our staff. We will be more than happy to help you master this vital technique.
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