The Tribune

By DR SPARKMAN FERGUSON

Registrar of the Bahamas Dental Council

“It’s only a toothbrush, it can’t be that important.”

This statement represents what many people say when speaking about selecting a toothbrush. What’s the big deal? Just go to the store, buy the colour you like, squirt some toothpaste on it, and brush with it. If this story ended here without consequences, it would be a good one. However, there is a “right way” with the “right tools” to do almost everything, and tooth brushing is included.

Why must we examine the brush and the brushing? Answer: Because the two go together daily for most people. In short, the brush has to be proper, and the brushing has to be effective.

The brush

A soft toothbrush is the only “right tool” for brushing one’s teeth. Dentists and dental hygienists never speak about medium or hard toothbrushes. The reason is that medium and hard toothbrushes are never part of a dental health conversation. In my clinical experience, I have never seen healthy gums in any person who uses a medium or a hard toothbrush.

The brushing

With a soft toothbrush in hand, children should be taught to continuously move the brush in a circular motion on the teeth.

With a soft toothbrush in hand, adults should perform sulcular brushing (for example quick strokes just under the gum line) or swipe brushing (for example brushing in one direction from the gums to the teeth).

A “sawing” back and forth brushing motion should only be performed on the biting surfaces of the back teeth.

Brushing mistakes:

1. Brushing with a medium or hard toothbrush

2. Brushing with a “sawing” motion everywhere

3. Brushing teeth and not brushing gums

4. Skipping (missing) teeth surfaces while brushing

5. Brushing with worn out (old) toothbrush

6. Brushing without toothpaste.

Conclusion

In spite of the continuous professional advice to persons recommending to them the use of soft brushes, many persons prefer the use of hard toothbrushes. The reasoning is somehow attached to the use of cleaning brushes used for household chores (harder brushes clean better). These “brushers” usually end up with conditions such as bleeding gum diseases and/or painful toothbrush abrasions – like holes on teeth created with a hard toothbrush). Both conditions can improve by using a soft toothbrush.

Brushing with a prescribed technique is equally as important as using the right toothbrush. Incorrect techniques often affect the gums and usually lead to the interruption of gum architecture and gum texture. Coupled with this is the creation of toothbrush abrasions.

Advice: Always choose to use a soft toothbrush, and employ a proper brushing technique to go along with it.